tears in her eyes the whole time. Elena’s make-up had been professionally done, her hair too, but now it was just herself and her mother, her bridesmaids having skipped away to show off their dresses to anyone who cared to look.
‘You look beautiful, Elena,’ her parent said softly. ‘No one would ever guess that you’re not totally in love. Or have you fallen for Vidal? Some days I wonder.’
‘Oh, Mamá, of course I don’t love him,’ she answered promptly. ‘But it’s such a beautiful dress, and he gave me such magnificent jewellery—’ she touched the incredible necklace ‘—how can I not get carried away?’
‘I thought you’d be terrified. It’s a big thing that you’re doing. We really do appreciate it.’
Elena hugged her mother. ‘I know, and if it makes you happy then it’s worth it.’
Her three little bridesmaids—cousins of Vidal—wore deep pink fairy-tale dresses that matched the roses in the church and in her bridal bouquet. Everything had been co-ordinated right down to the last petal and Elena was rightly proud of what she had achieved.
A celebrity magazine was covering the event for theirthousands of readers, generating even more interest; television cameramen were there as well, and as Elena made her way into the church on her father’s arm she felt incredibly nervous. It seemed as if the whole world were watching.
If they had any idea that it was all a sham she would die on the spot. She had to be strong and brave now and act as she had never acted before.
Vidal looked devilishly handsome in his dark suit and he took her hand as she joined him at the altar. ‘You look stunning, Elena. I’m very proud of you.’
His assurance helped, but it was not easy—she was trembling all over, especially when the time came to repeat her wedding vows. She could hear the nerves in her voice and was sure everyone else could too. How could she do this knowing that there was no love involved?
She had always dreamed of her wedding day. Of the love that would radiate out from her and her husband-to-be. It would be the best day of her life, one that she would remember for ever.
So how could she go through with this loveless marriage?
She couldn’t!
Everyone was waiting for her to continue. To vow unswerving love for the rest of her life.
She couldn’t do it!
She turned, taking a tiny step away from Vidal, and heard the communal gasp from the congregation.
Then, standing out clearly from the rest of the congregation, she saw her mother’s pale and anxious face, her father with his arm about her shoulders, supportingher, and immediately Elena knew that she had to carry on regardless of what the future held. It wasn’t just that she was saving the bank, her mother’s life depended on it as well, and she loved her mother dearly. There was no way in this world that she could let her down.
Vidal touched her arm and Elena turned back to him, her face pale but composed.
Her wedding ring lay heavy on her finger and she felt uncomfortable as she finally finished repeating her vows, as they were pronounced man and wife, when Vidal kissed her.
‘You can tell me later what happened,’ he muttered as they both dutifully smiled while the photographs were being taken, adding swiftly, ‘It’s a stunning dress—did I tell you that? But I can’t wait to strip it off you and take you to bed.’
Elena felt hot colour flood her cheeks. In truth, despite the fact that she had almost cut and run, it was what she hungered for too, but to hear Vidal say it made it sound wrong. ‘You shouldn’t be talking like this, especially not in front of our guests. Don’t forget, Vidal, that this isn’t a real marriage.’
For just a second fierce darkness filled his eyes and his grip on her arms tightened. Then his face relaxed and he smiled, but his voice, low enough for no one to hear except herself, was like steel. ‘I don’t want to hear you speak like that again, Elena.’ He moved his mouth
‘You look beautiful, Elena,’ her parent said softly. ‘No one would ever guess that you’re not totally in love. Or have you fallen for Vidal? Some days I wonder.’
‘Oh, Mamá, of course I don’t love him,’ she answered promptly. ‘But it’s such a beautiful dress, and he gave me such magnificent jewellery—’ she touched the incredible necklace ‘—how can I not get carried away?’
‘I thought you’d be terrified. It’s a big thing that you’re doing. We really do appreciate it.’
Elena hugged her mother. ‘I know, and if it makes you happy then it’s worth it.’
Her three little bridesmaids—cousins of Vidal—wore deep pink fairy-tale dresses that matched the roses in the church and in her bridal bouquet. Everything had been co-ordinated right down to the last petal and Elena was rightly proud of what she had achieved.
A celebrity magazine was covering the event for theirthousands of readers, generating even more interest; television cameramen were there as well, and as Elena made her way into the church on her father’s arm she felt incredibly nervous. It seemed as if the whole world were watching.
If they had any idea that it was all a sham she would die on the spot. She had to be strong and brave now and act as she had never acted before.
Vidal looked devilishly handsome in his dark suit and he took her hand as she joined him at the altar. ‘You look stunning, Elena. I’m very proud of you.’
His assurance helped, but it was not easy—she was trembling all over, especially when the time came to repeat her wedding vows. She could hear the nerves in her voice and was sure everyone else could too. How could she do this knowing that there was no love involved?
She had always dreamed of her wedding day. Of the love that would radiate out from her and her husband-to-be. It would be the best day of her life, one that she would remember for ever.
So how could she go through with this loveless marriage?
She couldn’t!
Everyone was waiting for her to continue. To vow unswerving love for the rest of her life.
She couldn’t do it!
She turned, taking a tiny step away from Vidal, and heard the communal gasp from the congregation.
Then, standing out clearly from the rest of the congregation, she saw her mother’s pale and anxious face, her father with his arm about her shoulders, supportingher, and immediately Elena knew that she had to carry on regardless of what the future held. It wasn’t just that she was saving the bank, her mother’s life depended on it as well, and she loved her mother dearly. There was no way in this world that she could let her down.
Vidal touched her arm and Elena turned back to him, her face pale but composed.
Her wedding ring lay heavy on her finger and she felt uncomfortable as she finally finished repeating her vows, as they were pronounced man and wife, when Vidal kissed her.
‘You can tell me later what happened,’ he muttered as they both dutifully smiled while the photographs were being taken, adding swiftly, ‘It’s a stunning dress—did I tell you that? But I can’t wait to strip it off you and take you to bed.’
Elena felt hot colour flood her cheeks. In truth, despite the fact that she had almost cut and run, it was what she hungered for too, but to hear Vidal say it made it sound wrong. ‘You shouldn’t be talking like this, especially not in front of our guests. Don’t forget, Vidal, that this isn’t a real marriage.’
For just a second fierce darkness filled his eyes and his grip on her arms tightened. Then his face relaxed and he smiled, but his voice, low enough for no one to hear except herself, was like steel. ‘I don’t want to hear you speak like that again, Elena.’ He moved his mouth
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