The Accidental Wife by Sara Islam

Chapter 16 I wasn't just nervous. I was a wreck, but I had to act all composed for the sake of the family. Uncle Steven decided to throw Rose a birthday party and he invited his small circle which consisted of almost seventy people. The small circle also included Jeffrey, Maggie and Fiona. I hadn't seen them since the wedding and I was happy about that. However, Uncle Steven stressed how importance their attendance was. Julian and I arrived at 7:00 PM. The moment we walked inside, Rose greeted us and pulledinto a hug. She was wearing the dress I made her. I couldn't believe that she chose my dress to wear to an important event like that. "As I was telling you, my talented daughter in-law made this amazing dress for me, she told a bunch of women to whom she was talking.

"You have done an excellent job, Emily" a curly-haired woman told me, makingsmile as 1 thanked her. "How much do you charge for a dress?" A woman in a black dress asked me.

"Oh, I'm not doing this for business. I only make dresses for myself. Rose is an exception." I said.

"That's a shame. You should start doing this as a business. You'll make a nfor yourself in no time," she told me.

*Maybe Julian wants her to always be with him in the company and doesn't want her to do work in designing "I frowned when a woman said that and was about to reply, but suddenly an arm got wrapped around my waist.

I knew from the scent I grew to like that it was Julian. "TrustI'm more than ready to support her in any way she wants, but my wife is stubborn and refuses to accept my help" He kissed my cheek after he finished talking. I didn't know where he cfrom, but I loved h "Julian is very supportive of whatever I want to do," I said, smiling at him, "I'm glad that my daughter is happy. Upon hearing her voice, I tensed, but Julian was quick to reach for my hand and he started to rub small circles around the back of it. I wanted to scream at her that I wasn't a daughter of hers. She was never a mother toand never w For a second, I looked at Julian with my heart thumping in my chest. I was scared that his act might falter upon seeing Fiona, but he stayed by my side. He keptclose to him and didn't let go of me. We never talked about her and Chester dating. I felt like it was a sensitive topic.

"You know I will always do whatever it takesto ensure her happiness. You don't know how much I care about her," Julian told her. His tone was different. He wasn't friendly and I was scared that anybody else would catch on. I didn't want to cause a scene at Rose's birthday.

"It's so good to see you!" I plastered a fake smile on my face. It was hard to act like everything was fine, but I was ready to do anything for Rose. "We will catch up with you later, but Julian and I need to greet sof his friends." My eyes fell on Fiona, and she had that stup It would probably break her heart to learn that I didn't give a single damn about her or him. I thought I would feel an ounce of pain upon seeing them together, but boy had I been wrong. I felt nothing. The only thing I cared about at that moment was making sure that Julian I pulled Julian away from them and we both headed to a private area. "What's wrong" I asked. When I tried pulling my hand away from his, he gently tightened his grip, refusing to let go of my hand.

"I can't stand your father and stepmother," he mumbled, makingfrown.

"Did they do anything to you!" "No, but they did to you" His answer stunned me..

"What have you learned?" I didn't tell him much.

"Uprooting you from your home, basically selling you to my family for your father's company and not to mention what I have been told before." His voice lowered at the last part as he looked away from me. What was he told about met "What were you told?" I was curious to know.

"I promise I will tell you later. I nodded.

"Please think of Rose, okay! Don't say or do anything that would ruin her night I pleaded. He stayed silent for a couple of seconds, then nodded.

"Have I told you that you look absolutely stunning tonight" I laughed a little at how random his compliment wal "Even if you've toldalready, I would like to hear you say it again," I smirked. I loved that playful side of him. "You look gorgeous, sunshine." He closed the space between us and gavea peck on my lips, takingoff guard. I wasn't used to him callingwith any nicknwhen we were in private and I sure as hell wasn't used to him pecking my lips. "Sorry, have I crossed a line?" He looked apologetic. My surprised face had probably given him the wrong idea.

"No, I don't mind." I leaned in and pecked his lips to prove to him that I was okay with it. Also, I kind of liked kissing him. Chapter 16 "So, it seems like you two were actually together while we were dating after all," I heard Chester's voice. "It was all an act." "None of us has to prove anything to you, Chester." Julian turned to look at him. "And it's d it's not like you're a

man of honour. First, you abandoned your girlfriend and didn't give her a chance to explain herself. Second, you're so petty that you went around and started dating her stepsister who also happens to be my ex. Third, my father bought your silence about the whole thing, an took five million dollars to convince you." I was In love with the confidence in Julian's voice. I looked at Chester and could easily tell that he was angry.

"It was so easy for you to get over me, right? You couldn't handle that I was hurt and went off to marry him." Chester addressed me. You forgot our love and made the decision to throw it away. I still loved you and you ended up marrying Julian. I had to hurt you, so I picke I wasn't sure what gChester wa

was playing, but I wasn't going to entertain him. I wasn't going to let him toy with my feelings. I had no respect for him, and I knew that m e whatever he was saying was a lie. I kept trying to get in contact with him. for a whole week after what happened, and all my calls and te married, I told him what Jeffrey had toldand he didn't so much as givea one-word reply. "Don't you think we should head back?" I looked at Julian, completely ignoring Chester.

"Let's go." He placed his hand on the small of my back and we both left Chester standing all alone, Chester was a chapter that I was more than glad to end.

SIND GIFT