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Love…
Jesus. That’s what it is. Gwen reached past the beast inside me and found the man who’s been struggling to break free all these years and live.
She’s not my pawn.
She’s my fucking queen. The most powerful piece on the chessboard.
But one day, I’m going to have to give her back.
ChapterTwenty-Six
Gwen
Igaze out the long stained glass windows of the library, watching the rain fall onto the roses that have just started to bloom in the garden.
The sight is a beautiful break from the sketches I’ve been drawing all morning.
Even though I now have my own room to work in, I still like being in the library. It has a homely vibe to it that makes it the perfect place to work.
Sebastian likes being in here too. He’s curled up by my feet watching me.
He’s been running around a lot better now and doesn’t need the bandages.
Although I’m still in a foul mood from my sham wedding yesterday, I’m happy I don’t have to worry about him so much. I’m also pleased I’ve nearly finished my designs.
The goal was to create a hundred new designs for my new lingerie line and release twenty every month for the rest of the year.
Before I met Malik and got in trouble with Conrad, I’d finished twenty. They were already up on the website and were the designs our newsletter subscribers pre-ordered.
As of two minutes ago, I completed my eightieth design. So, I have twenty to go before I reach the goal.
Normally, I take my time because different ideas come to me on a daily basis that inspire what I’m designing. Talking to Dru also helps. Her eye for color schemes and trends is key to me. Aside from that, she inspires me because she believes in me. That always encourages me to do my best. But the situation here has pushed me to lose myself in my work.
Malik didn’t come home last night.
Or if he did. I didn’t see him, and he didn’t come anywhere near his bedroom. I was up for hours, unable to sleep.
Given the fact that our wedding was little more than a business meeting, his behavior shouldn’t have surprised me.
I should have expected it after his lack of acknowledgement at the ceremony.
But it’s me who’s being silly again.
Men and women do this all the time—this game. They hook up when they need to have sex, and the next time they see each other, it’s like nothing happened.
Like us, those types of people can get married to each other for convenience and still fuck around.
It’s ironic I was the one looking for a one-night stand when I first met Malik, so I should feel nothing. No big deal. Right?
Except it is and being unable to detach is making me crazy.
Having his rings on my finger isn’t exactly helpful either. Nor is the can of worms that will be snapped open after tomorrow’s meeting when I meet Dad’s family.
The time has snuck up on me and I’m not prepared to see them. Everything is bothering me, but every time I think of meeting them, the warning in my heart tells me to run away. Even with the end goal in my mind, I have a bad feeling about the whole thing.
It’s not bad enough to stop me from wanting what belongs to me, but I know it’s not going to be easy.
If my entire life wasn’t easy because of these people who couldn’t find me, how will it be easy when they can, and I take what they cherish?
