Esmeralda caught on in an instant. "So, my irresistible beauty finally got to you, huh?"
Alexander turned toward her, the corners of his mouth curving up in a slow, almost mocking grin. "You had a glob ofsh glue sparkling in the light like a damn diamond. I have to admit, it was impressively messy."
Esmeralda shot him a look of utter disbelief. "...Pull over."
She was ready to fling herself out of the car.
But there was no time left.
They were already pulling up to City Hall.
After Alexander''s nonsense, Esmeralda didn''t even have a chance to wallow in heartbreak or nostalgia.
He climbed out and practically swept her from the seat, arm hooked securely around her shoulder as he steered her across the parking lot toward the entrance.
With that iron grip, escaping was hopeless.
Alexander hade thoroughly prepared, every document in perfect order.
He spread them triumphantly on the counter, then fixed her with a look. "Esmeralda, do you really think you''ll find anyone better than me?"
A shiver raced down Esmeralda''s spine. "You can''t say that for sure..."
Her answer clearly annoyed him. He yanked her a step closer. "I''m twenty-eight, never so much as had a real rtionship, no skeletons, noplicated history. I''m a straightced, outstanding guy-you might want to think about that."
He''d spent so long hiding his feelings, dancing around the truth. But now? Forget it. He''d had enough of pretending.
Esmeralda swallowed, surprised not to feel nearly so sad as she''d expected. There wasn''t room for heartbreak—just shock at how quickly everything was happening.
Fleming? She barely had time to think about him.
She hesitated, voice small. "Do you really think we could... make this work?"
Best friend one day; now he''s practically breaking in and proposing the next.
Alexander just gave a t, humorless smile, snatching her ID right out of her hands. "We''ll see soon enough."
And then-
The official''s stamp came down with a loud, final thud.
For a moment, everything in Esmeralda''s mind went nk.
She was terrified of the unknown thaty ahead.
But she knew Alexander. He wouldn''t sell himself short; he was brutally honest but always clear about what he wanted. He never made careless decisions.
If that was the case...
Esmeralda squeezed her eyes shut.
Marrying someone else? None of the alternatives seemed any better than Alexander. At least with him, there was something genuine between them. Besides, her family would be on her case if she didn''t get married soon, and the mess with Fleming had left her exhausted. So... fine.
Let''s do this.
Getting the marriage license turned out to be ridiculously easy.
Alexander looked at her, a little too pleased for herfort. "So, what''s next?"
Esmeralda gave him a puzzled look. "Aren''t we supposed to go home and bring everyone up to speed?"
Instead, Alexanderced his fingers through hers, apparently relishing the contact. "Wedding night. Obviously."
The words knocked the wind out of Esmeralda. She gripped the car door like a lifeline. "Are you insane? That''s way too fast! No way!"
She was ready to bolt for real this time.
This felt like something out of a horror movie.
Alexander watched her panicked
e and, with a wicked little et
smirk, tossed back, "Maybe you''re the one who can''t handle it Don''t project onto me
Esmeralda actually wanted to smack him.
Sure, they used to tease each other like this, but today it all felt way too real.
Alexander, for his part, was only trying to lighten the atmosphere.
After the chaos they''d caused today, there was still a mountain of problems to deal with. All he could do now was distract Esmeralda
keep her mind so upied she wouldn''t waste a single thought on Fleming.
As for Fleming-
A steely glint appeared in Alexander''s eyes.
Lucy had, in fact, rear-ended another car, aggravating an already injured leg.
The doctor said it was a fracture, nothing unfixable.
But because Lucy was traumatized by that leg, her anxiety was through the roof.
During her meltdown, she evenunched his phone right out the window.
Fleming understood it was shock that sent Lucy spiraling. His jaw was tight and set as he did his best to calm her before surgery.
He escorted her all the way to the operating room doors. She clung to his hand, staring into his eyes.
="Fleming whert! wake up to
ant
you to be the first thing I see."
Fleming hesitated.
He''d promised Esmeralda he''d be back. He wasn''t going to just abandon her, not after today.
He nned to finish the wedding afterward, once Lucy was safely seen to.
He didn''t answer Lucy''s plea, turning to the surgeon instead. "How long will the operation take?"
"Treating the wounds and setting the fracture—an hour and a half, tops."
Fleming nodded. "Thank you."
As they wheeled Lucy inside, she didn''t take her eyes off him for a second.
She was convinced that, from here on out, Esmeralda was finished.
She, Lucy, would be the one left standing. She would be the one by his side in the
end.
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