Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 60377 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60377 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
She remained silent as she watched me, still so visibly shaken. “Why would he do such a horrible thing?” she croaked out.
“Yulia is the sole benefactor of her father’s estate, and it is worth almost three billion pounds. The only way to get access to any of that is through Yulia. My uncle knew that I would never, under any circumstances let that happen, but if Yulia thought that I was the one who killed her parents, then perhaps she would lean against him instead and once he got rid of me, she would be happy to give him full control. The cops have been investigating this for a while with me now. I had nothing to fear. My businesses are all legit or watertight protected. So I agreed to help them. They knew Ivan was involved in some way, they will be glad to see the video of what happened at home with Ivan…Now kiss me.” I needed to know that we were okay, and that she wasn't going to leave.
She gazed at me for a little while, and then she came for me, her lips crushing mine in an almost desperate, teary-eyed kiss.
“I’ve got one more confession.”
She drew back slightly. “What is it?”
“That night I took you to Grosvenor House Hotel, I knew your mother would be there and I was hoping you would be able to patch it.”
Her eyes widened. “You knew who my mother was?”
“Yeah.” I grimaced. “I had someone do some digging. I was trying to help. I thought it would be a great reunion. I guess, I didn’t expect it to become the fiasco it did.”
She shrugged. “I’m glad it happened that way. All my life I was chasing a dream, finally, I saw it for what it was. After that night I stopped chasing that empty promise and now I’m just grateful for all the wonderful things that I actually have around me. Charlotte, Yulia…you…”
“I’m still sorry you had to go through that public humiliation though,” I apologized. “I swear I will never allow anything like that to happen to you again.” With my good arm, I held her to me, refusing to let go. I took a deep breath. “And now for the big declaration. April Winters, please don't leave me,” I rasped out. “I want you in my life. I love you. I think I’ve loved you for a long time, but I didn’t want to accept it.”
Her eyes grew round with wonder. “You love me?”
“Yes, I fucking love you and anyway, what would I do without my little wild cat?”
She stilled against my chest.
I held my breath as she pulled away from me.
She looked into my eyes. “I’m not going anywhere, my love. It would be too hard to leave a man you are so crazy in love with that you’d kill another human being for and die for if necessary.”
My eyes filled with tears. “God, how I love you, April.”
Epilogue
April
16 months later
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQBW6G0hSrs
(Speak Softly Love)
“I hate you.”
I smiled at the statement as Charlotte adjusted the bejeweled tiara on my head.
“I’ll never forgive you for this. You have access to billions and this is the wedding you chose? A quiet remote Scottish castle and a chapel? Aren’t Russians supposed to be big spenders who love to show off?”
“You know me, Charlotte. I like things simple,” I murmured, more amused than offended. “This is what we both want.”
“Whatever,” she concluded. When she was done, she turned me around so I could see myself in the long mirror.
“I’m getting married, Charlotte,” I whispered, looking at myself in awe.
“If you aren’t, then you’re sure going to look silly in that get-up in the church,” she quipped.
I smiled. “You’re crazy.”
“Tell me something I don’t know. Come on Cinderella, time to meet the Prince.”
We walked together until we got to the entrance of the beautiful chapel in Dornoch, and joined my handful of bridesmaids and flower girls. Charlotte turned to me. “Go get him, tiger.”
And for a moment, I felt a pang of sadness for Charlotte. I was leaving her. She was the most beautiful person I knew. She’d seen me through ups and downs and she had no one. “Your turn will come soon,” I said softly.
Yulia ran up to me then, looking angelic in her flowing white dress and flower crown.
I lowered myself down to her height.
“You look beautiful April,” she said.
I placed a kiss on her cheeks, tears slowly gathering in my eyes.
When I rose, I was immediately rebuked. “Not today,” Charlotte scolded. “We did that last night and this morning. No more tears, you’re marrying the man of your dreams.”
“I know,” I said, unable to contain my joy. “I’m so happy, and terrified. What will the future hold?”
“Billions…er…I mean joy,” she said with a laugh as she gently patted the corners of my eyes dry. “Unending joy and happiness. Yuri will make sure of that.”