Forever After Read online

  “I look like a princess!”

  “Not quite.”

  I spun to see Declan in his costume. White knee socks were tucked under royal blue knickers. A jacket of the same color was pressed and had beautiful gold detailing.

  He matches me!

  A shiver ran through my body as I stared at the handsome man.

  “You look amazing.” Tears threatened to spill over as I stared at him.

  “I have something for you.” He took a few steps toward me. “Turn around and close your eyes.”

  “Okay.” I obeyed and turned. I blinked a few times trying to suppress the happy tears.

  He tucked something heavy into my curls. “All right, open them.”

  I gasped at the sight of the sapphire-and-diamond tiara that rested on my head.

  “Now you look like a princess,” he said, looking me up and down.

  The tears welled up in my eyes again as I reached up and felt the precious jewels that rested on my head. “It’s more than I could have ever wished for.”

  “Don’t get too excited. It’s a loaner from Roses Jewelers. I have to return it tomorrow.” His mouth quirked up at the ends. “Even that is a little out of my price range.”

  “Even one night as your princess is enough,” I said, a tear sliding down my cheek.

  “Don’t cry, Sarah.” He bit his lip and looked down nervously.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I have to tell you something.”

  My smile faded. “What?”

  “I-I’ve never said this to anyone before,” he stammered.

  “What?”

  Taking a deep breath, he looked up at me. “I love you, Sarah Evers.”

  I felt another shiver rack my body. “I love you, too, Declan.”

  A look of relief washed over his face. “You do?”

  “Of course.”

  “Sir, your car is ready.” Andrew smiled at us.

  As we walked out of the bedroom, I turned to the butler flashed him a smile and thumbs-up. He laughed and headed toward the cigar room. I knew he was going to sit in front of the fire while drinking a scotch and enjoying a night off.

  Chapter 15

  The limo stopped in front of the Soldiers and Sailors Hall. People in amazing costumes climbed out of other limos and equally impressive cars heading into the venue. They laughed, talked, and murmured about how beautiful the decorations were. I held tightly to Declan’s arm. I was completely overwhelmed with everything. I felt as though I were in a wonderful dream. He led me to one of the round tables where a group of people stood.

  “Declan, my boy!” a tall, white-haired man called. He beamed from ear-to-ear. The black mask he wore reminded me of The Phantom of the Opera. He wore black knickers with red knee-high stockings and a black and red jacket with gold medallions on it.

  “Grandfather!” Declan greeted the man.

  “Who is this bonny lass?” he asked in a heavy Irish accent.

  “Grandfather, I would like you to meet Sarah Evers.”

  “I finally get to meet the mystery woman in Declan’s life.” He smiled, kissing the top of my hand.

  “Mr. Press, I am honored—”

  He cut me off, “Oh pish-posh on the Mr. Press bullshit. He was my father. Please call me Gordon.”

  I smiled tentatively. “Gordon.”

  “It’s a pleasure meeting you. And this fine lady here is my wife, Gwendolyn.”

  “Sarah. It is wonderful finally meeting you. Declan has been hogging such a beautiful creature all to himself.”

  “Grandmother. That’s quite enough.” Declan’s cheeks turned a scarlet color.

  His grandmother took me by the hand and introduced me to the rest of the family. Declan’s father, his three brothers, their wives, and finally I saw Liam with Veronica. I embraced the girl who seemed to be as overwhelmed as I was. She wore a beautiful rose-colored gown that went beautifully with her skin tone and hair. She looked radiant.

  “I am so glad to see you,” she exclaimed.

  “Me, too.” I kissed her cheek.

  “And now,” Gwendolyn started as she dragged me away from Veronica, “this is Declan’s stepmother, Lillian.”

  I swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat as I spotted the woman. She was immensely beautiful. Her hunter-green gown accentuated her piercing green eyes and raven-black hair.

  “Lillian, I want you to meet Declan’s lady, Sarah.”

  “He didn’t bother introducing us?” she asked in a snide tone.

  “He is discussing business with the men,” Gwendolyn replied coldly to the woman.

  “She’s not as pretty as the last one.” Her eyes narrowed at me.

  Gwendolyn sighed heavily. “She is lovely.”

  “I suppose, if that is what Declan prefers.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Press.” I tried to hold back the tears. You vile bitch.

  “I’m sure.” She turned her back to us and sipped from her champagne flute.

  “Forgive the ice queen.” Gwendolyn led me to another group of people. “She hasn’t learned how to interact with people. I think the woman was raised by wolves or the trolls recently released her from their toad infested dungeons.”

  The elder woman must have introduced me to every person in the ballroom before we finally sat down to dinner. I took my seat next to Declan, trying to focus on the conversations everyone was having. I couldn’t help but notice the icy stares Lillian gave me. I’d felt great about myself at the beginning of the evening, now not so much. As dinner finished, a band took the stage. A waltz began and Declan held his hand out to me. I gladly took it and followed him to the dance floor. We twirled around and around with other couples as the band played song after song. My gown swished around my feet and I laughed. When a break in the music came up I excused myself to the restroom. I didn’t have to go, but I needed some quite time.

  I stood in front of the mirror adjusting the valuable tiara on my head when Lillian traipsed in.

  Awesome. I groaned inwardly.

  “Hello, Mrs. Press.”

  “You know, it is great Declan was able to find a girl.” She sneered at me.

  “It is?” My eyes darted to the woman’s glare then back to my own reflection.

  “Of course. I didn’t think he would find someone pathetic enough to be used as a ploy for him to keep his inheritance.”

  “I’m sorry, but what?” I asked. I could feel my heart sink to the pit of my stomach.

  “Oh, you didn’t know?”

  “Know what?” I didn’t know what she was talking about, but I could panic rising.

  “He has to be married before his twenty-eighth birthday if he wants to remain heir to the Press Corporation.”

  “Married?”

  “Yes. I honestly didn’t think any self-respecting woman would degrade herself so much.” She shrugged. “I suppose we’re all wrong occasionally. Unless you really thought he was in love with someone like you, a plain, no-name lawyer.”

  I felt the tears welling and my breathing became haggard.

  “You’re not going to cry, are you? Your mascara may run.” She smiled snidely before leaving me alone in the restroom.

  The tears did come. They fell down my cheeks in a river. I left the restroom looking for Declan. He stood near the dinner table with Liam. I pushed my way through the throng of people who were spinning on the dance floor, no doubt having the night of their lives.

  “How could you?” I yelled at him.

  “What?” he asked, staring at me as if I were crazy.

  “I’m not some pawn in your game.” I ripped the tiara from my head and threw it at him. “I want nothing more to do with you. You can find someone else
to use to get your inheritance.”

  “What are you talking about, Sarah?”

  “Your stepmother told me your plan. I just can’t believe I was the fool to fall for it.”

  He looked at me as if I had punched him in the gut.

  “It’s true. Isn’t it?” I narrowed my eyes at him as the tears fell down my cheeks.

  He stared at me, his eyes a cold steel.

  “You fucking prick,” I screamed. “How dare you do that to me? How dare you!”

  “Declan, is this true?” His grandfather stood from his seat and faced Declan with such disappointment in his eyes.

  “It was, but it’s not anymore.”

  “You used me. Did I ever mean anything to you?”

  “Yes. Of course. I love you!”

  “Don’t you dare say that to me. Don’t you dare!”

  I ran from the room, leaving those around him in stunned silence.

  “Sarah! Please, wait!” he called after me.

  I didn’t stop. I ran across the drive, falling to my knees. I continued to run to the car, ignoring the gravel digging into my one barefoot. I looked back and saw Declan pick up my missing shoe. I stood outside the limo and untied the mask. Staring at the man I let the mask drop to the ground. The beautiful, jeweled object shattered into tiny pieces. I’m pretty sure that was what my heart did. It shattered into tiny pieces. I climbed into the car and asked to be taken back to Declan’s.

  “Mr. Press is coming toward us, though.” The driver motioned to the front door.

  “Please, just go. Without him.”

  “Are you sure?”

  I sobbed in return. The driver stopped on Fifth Avenue and headed toward Declan’s house. Once inside, I threw the dress, shoe, and necklace into a heap on his floor. Mascara ran down my face and my once-beautiful hair was limp and hanging everywhere.

  “Sara? What on earth happened?”

  “It’s all a lie, Andrew. The entire thing was a lie. He never loved me. He used me to get his inheritance.”

  “What?” The man wrapped me in a hug.

  “He needs to be married by his twenty-eighth birthday or he loses his inheritance. I was the sucker he picked. I have to go. I don’t want to be here when he gets home.” I wiped my eyes, doing nothing but spreading the ruined makeup across my face.

  “Please keep in touch.” Andrew kissed my cheek.

  I jumped in my car and sped back to my apartment. Once inside I paced around followed closely by an agitated Bob.

  “We’re leaving, Bob,” I declared suddenly.

  He meowed in response.

  I grabbed my phone and scrolled through the contacts. “Uncle Richard? It’s Sarah.”

  “Hi, sweetheart. How are you?”

  “I’m well. That job you offered me, is it still on the table?”

  “Of course. We’d love to have you working with the family.”

  “I’ll be there tomorrow afternoon.”

  I hung up and packed what clothes fit into my three suitcases. I shoved a resistant Bob into his carrier and called Sam.

  “I’m leaving.”

  “Leaving what?”

  “Here. Him. Everything.”

  “What? Whoa, slow down,” she said.

  “It was all a lie. I should have listened to you.”

  “What? What the hell happened, Sarah?”

  I went into detail about what happened, sinking to the floor and sobbing as I did.

  “What are you going to do?” she finally asked.

  “I’m going to California to work for my uncle and my dad.”

  “Is that what you want to do?”

  “Yes,” I replied. “I need to get away from here.”

  “I’m coming to visit.”

  “Every month!” I sobbed into the phone.

  What am I going to do without Sam?

  “As much as I can.”

  “Come with me! I can get you a job there, too.” I needed someone with me. How would I survive without my best friends?

  She laughed but refused.

  “I love you, Sam.”

  “I love you, too, Sarah.”

  I tossed the phone into my purse, threw my bags into my car, buckled Bob’s carrier up, and left for the airport.

  I hated paying six hundred dollars for a plane ticket, but I wasn’t waiting around.

  I stood in the line holding Bob’s carrier when I heard someone screaming for me.

  “Sarah!”

  No. Don’t pay attention. He’ll go away.

  “Sarah. What are you doing?”

  “Go away, Declan,” I muttered when he found me.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Leaving. I can’t do this anymore,” I mumbled, sniffling back the sob that wanted to escape.

  “Please don’t leave,” he begged.

  “Go away.”

  “I’m not letting you leave.” He grabbed my wrist and refused to let me go.

  Bob meowed his frustration from in the carrier.

  “You or Bob.”

  “Go away. I want nothing more to do with you.” I wrenched my arm free and moved up in line.

  People stopped what they were doing to stare at us.

  “Can I at least explain?”

  “Explain what? That I was nothing more than something you used for your own gain? Did you ever love me?” My eyes glassed over.

  Don’t cry, Sarah. Don’t you dare give me the satisfaction of seeing you cry. Stay strong!

  “I do love you.”

  “No, Declan, you don’t. You only love you.”

  “Lillian is nothing but a poisonous snake.”

  “But she spoke the truth,” I yelled at him. “You want nothing but a wife so you can get the fucking money!”

  “When I met you, I was looking for someone to just marry. I never counted on falling in love. But I did. With you. I. Love. You. I want to be with you.”

  Bob meowed again.

  “Shut it, Bob.” I held tightly to his carrier.

  “Please give me a chance.”

  “No, Declan. No. I did that once before and it fucked me up for a long time.”

  “Final boarding call for flight eight-zero-four to San Francisco, California,” an announcer said over the intercom.

  “That’s me. It was fun, but I’m done.” I grabbed my bag off the floor and moved up in the line further,

  Declan followed close behind.

  “Please, Sarah.”

  I ignored him and handed my boarding pass to the woman, who looked nervously from me to him.

  I passed through the gate and descended the ramp when I heard him shouting, “Marry me!”

  I stopped and turned. He was on one knee with a ring box in his hand.

  “That’s what I was doing all day. I was finding the perfect ring for you. I didn’t buy one, though.”

  “Then where’d you get it?” I asked, standing there.

  “My grandmother. It’s her engagement ring.”

  I bit my lip and furrowed my brow. His grandmother’s ring? Would he give some girl he was using a family heirloom?

  “Why her ring?”

  “She’s my favorite woman in the entire world next to you. I trust her opinion. She said if I really loved you and you me, you needed something money could never buy. The ring my grandfather used to propose to her. The same ring his grandfather used to propose to his grandmother.”

  I looked around as people just stared at me. I slowly made my way back up the ramp to the ridiculous man who poured his heart out in front of all those strangers. I glanced at the ring. A sapphire, like my necklace.

  “How can I trust
you? Our relationship was built on a lie.”

  “And I was wrong. I fell in love with you the moment I first kissed you. I told you that was when I knew I had to have you. I want you to be my wife, Sarah.”

  I heard the ticket woman sniff. I looked at her as a tear slid down her cheek. “Girl, you are insane if you don’t tell that man yes.”

  “Damnit, Declan.”

  He stood, taking the ring out of the box. “That’s a yes?”

  “Do I ever tell you no?” I cried.

  He slid the ring on my finger and the entire concourse broke out in applause.

  Chapter 16

  Declan grabbed Bob’s carrier and led me out of the airport.

  Uncle Richard is going to be pissed that I’m not coming out to California.

  “Are you serious about marrying me?” I asked as Declan climbed into the drivers’ side of the car.

  “Of course.”

  “It’s not just for your inheritance?”

  He sat there gripping the steering wheel lost in thought for a few long moments. “We’ll have the wedding after my twenty-eighth birthday.”

  “You mean it?” I pursed my lips and examined his face. My eyes were sore and I was pretty sure they were bloodshot.

  “Absolutely.”

  “You’ll lose your inheritance.” I looked down at my hands.

  He shrugged.

  “That means no more fancy cars and nice houses.”

  “I can manage without,” he replied.

  “No fancy vacations,” I continued.

  “We won’t be paupers, Sarah. I do hold a master’s degree in business and you’re a lawyer. We would be fine on our own.” He smiled at me.

  “I don’t want you to lose it because of me, Declan.”

  “I can’t think of a better reason to.”

  I cast my eyes downward. “What about your stepmother?”

  “Fuck her. I don’t care what she has to say. She’s a bitter old hag who shouldn’t even be married to my father.”