Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 101247 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101247 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
“You thief!” I slap his arm playfully. “So… you’ve had my bracelet with you all this time?”
“I carry it on me everywhere.” He is telling the truth because despite being hostile and angry with me, he still had it in his pocket.
“I kinda don’t want to return it because it’s become my lucky charm. I’d feel quite strange without it now.”
“I am your lucky charm,” I answer sassily.
He nods. “You’re right. It was good to have when I thought I didn’t have you, but I have you now, don’t I?”
“You know what, I want you to have it.” I slip it back into his pocket. “I’m happy knowing it’s with you.”
“Thank you.” He lifts me into his arms. “Now that we’re on the subject of our wedding night, we’ve not had a proper honeymoon. How about a trip somewhere so hot you can walk around naked all day long?”
“Now that we’re discussing wedding nights, there’s something I must do.”
“What?” He backs me into the wall, his gaze roaming my breasts.
“Let’s take a trip to Paris.”
“The world is your oyster, sweetheart. We can go anywhere you want.”
“Paris. I want to go to Paris.”
Epilogue
FRANCESCA
ONE MONTH LATER
“Thank you, Vance,” I say airily, alighting the vehicle in front of The Pavilion Margaux, the most exclusive gambling House in Paris.
We make a pretty picture in black. I’m wearing a black knee-length dress that hugs my figure and highlights my curves. It’s a little unsuitable for the cold weather, but in a few weeks, I won’t be able to wear any more figure-hugging dresses like this for a long time, but Valentino doesn’t know that yet. He’s wearing a black suit, and he looks phenomenal as usual.
“I don’t know why you chose to come here,” Valentino whispers into my ear as we walk into the building.
He doesn’t know, but I know exactly why I chose to come here.
When we enter, I immediately hear the smooth, sultry voice of the one woman I’ve always wanted to meet again. Nina. This woman walked into my house and dared to make me feel small in my own home by telling me she fucked my husband. I can’t believe I let her walk away without spilling her blood. I was naive then; I no longer am.
“I came for the music,” I tell Valentino, pulling him to the front of the crowd.
He narrows his eyes at me.
“So, are we here to dance? Or do you have something in mind?”
“Nothing in particular. I wanted to slap her face and leave an imprint of my palm on her skin, but I’ve decided I just want her to see us like this. Happy and in love.”
He wraps his arms around my waist, and we move gently to the music. “You can still slap her if you want, I’ll have you know that I already punished her.”
“How?”
“I can’t tell,” Valentino grins. “You’ll call me a monster.”
“I already knew that before I said I love you. It doesn’t change anything. Now tell me what you did to her.”
“I sort of strangled her,” he says, pursing his lips. “I also warned her never to speak or come close to you again!”
“You sort of strangled her?” I gasp. “You really are a monster. It’ll be cruel if I hit her after you almost strangled her, so I won’t.”
“Okay.” He leans into my body, and we continue to dance like we are at a nightclub, and not here to mock Nina.
After several minutes of swaying to the soft music, I’ve almost forgotten why I’m here…until I look up to meet Nina’s hateful gaze. She’s staring like she wants to murder me, and I feel not one iota of fear as I stare back at her. Instead, I grin and wave.
“Is she looking?” Valentino asks.
“Yes.”
“Good.”
I thought he would meet her eyes, too, but instead, he pulls me close and kisses me passionately. I melt into his arms, all thoughts of Nina and revenge flying out the window.
“Let’s get out of here, Valentino.”
“Already?” He rasps.
“Right now.”
We run out of the building like children and into the car. Valentino has checked into the same hotel suite we had during our honeymoon. It was like a beautiful recreation of our past. It's a rare form of second chance.
“Thank you for doing this for me. I know it’s petty, but-”
“It’s not,” he says. “In fact, I’m glad we did it. I didn’t realize you were still thinking about it. Now you can let it go.”
“I can.”
Vance pulls up outside the steps of the hotel entrance and Valentino and I bid him goodnight and go up the stone steps. We enter the elevator, laughing and kissing each other. We really are like little kids, and I’ve never been happier than I am now.
As soon as we’re inside the room, we fall over each other, kissing and tearing away layers of clothing until we’re naked in each other’s arms. Valentino lays me on the bed, hovering protectively over me as he kisses my lips. His kiss is soft and affectionate, and his touch is like feathers sliding softly over my skin.