CHAPTER FIVE

It was finally time for her to meet her beloved fiance. The man she would perhaps spend the rest of her life with. She sat in front of her vanity mirror, decked up like a beautiful queen.

Her white lace dress was picked out by Luna, who said it made her look like a fairy. She'd chosen her jewelry to rhyme with the 'fairy' theme.

Her mom had helped her curl her hair and placed little pearl balls in them. She took extra care in her dressing, ready to impress him.

“You sure don't want to know his name? You still have thirty minutes to look him up and decide if he's worth it or not.” Mariah smiled at her daughter.

Celestine stared at her reflection as she picked up her phone and unlocked it. “Alright. Just because you asked and you've been pestering me about it.”

Maria smiled.

“So what is the name of the man who decided to take me away from my sweet mom?”

“His name is Rhy–”

Someone knocked on her door. “Dear, they've arrived.”

“Alright, we're on our way.” Mariah smiled at her daughter and held her shoulders. “It's time. Let's go.”

Rhys stared at the beautiful home of the Zane family. It looked warm and comfortable. The kind that you would want to have for yourself.

Rhys knew it wouldn't be hard to have his home decorated like theirs, but he doubted he'd be able to make it feel as loving as theirs.

He looked up, and then he saw it. Something he'd missed the minute he'd walked in. He couldn't even explain what the hell he had.

The picture of the woman who had been tormenting his dreams was staring back at him.

His Selena.

The picture looked like it had been taken recently because she looked just like she had that night, exotic and yet so simple.

God, please no!

His heart tightened as he wished that it wasn't what he thought it was.

He walked closer to the frame and took a picture of Selena.

God, please let her be my future wife's sister. Please.

It would be better to know he slept with his future sister-in-law than his wife, because then it could only mean one thing.

She knew who he was, and she cornered him.

At least if she's his future sister-in-law, then he could plead with her parents to let him make a switch.

He had to be the first man on earth, hoping he'd slept with his sister-in-law.

“She's beautiful, isn't she?”

He turned and saw a little girl. She was dressed in a white shirt and bum-shorts, and her hair, which was all too familiar to him, was braided into two pigtails.

“She is. Who is she?” Rhys asked, giving the little girl a beautiful smile.

“Are you the groom?” The girl asked.

Rhys shrugged. “I think I am.”

“Then how don't you know your bride? She's the one you were drooling over just now.”

The color on his face drained, but he smiled to cover it up. “I'm sorry for not recognizing her, but I haven't had the pleasure of meeting her before now.”

“Oh well, I just came to tell you to take good care of my sister. If you hurt my cinnamon roll, I'll kick you in the ass.”

That made Rhys smile. The little girl had a fire in her eyes that was just too similar to Selena. He doubted that she would be his after what he just found out.

“I can see that you can pack quite a punch. What's your name, little fighter?”

“Luna Selene. And it's little cinnamon, not little fighter.” Luna rolled her eyes at him.

“What?” Rhys grinned. “Don't you like my nickname for you?”

“No. My sister calls me Little Cinnamon. No one is entitled to call me anything but that.” Luna glared at the man. She didn't like him. He was going to take her sister away from her.

Rhys chuckled, and Luna looked ready to punch him in the face. “I'll call you whatever I want.”

“No!”

Rhys raised his hand to ruffle her braids, and Luna scowled, “Stop that. I'm not a child.”

“Of course you are. You're like, 8?”

“I'm 10. And no, I'm a grown-up.”

“I–”

“Mr. Alastair, is my daughter troubling you?” Rhys stood up to look at Maverick Zane, his expression cold.

Did Maverick put Selena up to it? He couldn't be sure. He'd never had to interact with the man before.

“No, in fact, she's a little angel. We were just getting to know each other.” Rhys replied.

“Please have your seat; my daughter should be down any minute now.” Maverick smiled and stretched his hand out to Rhys, who returned the handshake.

“Bring it in.” Maverick and Luna turned to the sound of the new voice. The man turned around and smiled. “Hi, I'm Bane Salvador. This iceberg's best friend.”

Rhys raised an eyebrow as he watched Bane smile at Maverick and shake hands with him.

What happened to the evil beast of his best friend?

How did he look so approachable within minutes?

“Wow, Mr. Bane! You look so handsome. Can I touch your hair?” Luna grinned, and Rhys scoffed at her. She'd treated him like shit from the minute they met.

“Don't be rude, Luna. Boundaries, remember?” Maverick scolded his daughter lightly, and Luna smiled.

“Of course, Daddy. Sorry, Mr. Bane, if I made you uncomfortable.”

“What? Of course not. You can touch mine if you let me touch yours.” Luna ran to him and sat beside him, and the two of them began talking about hairstyles and fucking unicorns.

“There she is.” Maverick stood up and walked to his wife and daughter. “You look beautiful, dear.”

“Thank you, Dad.”

It was her voice and that melodious tone that sent a feeling of warmth all over his body. It still did, though, but it came with a pain in his chest.

He thought she was different.

With a perfectly emotionless face, Rhys stood up and turned to look at her.

“Hi, I'm Rhys Alastair. It's nice to finally put a face to the name. Selena, is it?”