Page 11 of The Greek Billionaire's Email Bride

This marriage wasn't designed to last. She had to do what she could to survive its end.

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The ride to his reunion was spent in tense silence. And her tension only grew when they arrived at their destination. Hope's palm grew damp against Colin's as they approached the check-in table. The woman seated there—blonde, petite, with a name tag reading "Kimberly"—looked up and froze.

"Colin Soukoulis? Is that really you?"

Colin's posture shifted subtly, his public persona sliding into place like armor. "Kimberly. You look well."

Kimberly's gaze darted between them, lingering on their joined hands. "No one knew if you'd come. And you brought..." Her eyes scrutinized Hope from head to toe.

"My wife," Colin supplied, his arm sliding around Hope's waist. "Hope, this is Kimberly Davis. We shared AP Chemistry."

Hope extended her free hand, offering a warm smile. "We were in AP Physics together."

Kimberly blinked, confusion crossing her features before recognition slowly dawned. "Wait... you're the quiet girl who aced all the tests? I barely recognized you."

"I remember you, though. I had just transferred then, and you noticed I was lost. You took the time to show me where my class was."

Kimberley only stared at her. Hope could see that the other woman also remembered what shedidn'tsay, and it was how Kimberley at that time had first called her an 'idiot' for getting lost.

"Small kindnesses matter," Hope added with a smile. "It's nice to see a familiar face after all these years."

The other woman slowly relaxed. "That's true. And I'm sure everyone will be delighted to see you again."

The ballroom buzzed with conversation and laughter, crystal chandeliers casting a flattering glow over the assembled alumni. Women in cocktail dresses, men in suits—all trying to present their most successful selves to the people who had known them when they were young and unformed.

Heads turned as Colin guided Hope through the crowd. Conversations paused. Eyes widened.

"You're causing quite the stir," Hope noted under her breath.

"I can say the same for you," Colin murmured, his hand warm against the small of her back.

A tall, athletic man with graying blond hair approached, his smile wide and practiced. "Colin Soukoulis, in the flesh. You actually showed up."

"Andrew." Colin shook the man's hand. "This is my wife, Hope. Hope, Andrew Thompson. Former basketball team captain, current car dealership owner."

Andrew whistled low, his gaze lingering on Hope longer than necessary. "When the hell did you get married? And your wife...I remember you back then. But I never thought you'd turn into such a knockout."

The possessive tightening of Colin's arm around her waist felt less like performance and more like protection, and it was only when Andrew finally let them go that the tension in his shoulders eased.

Colin guided her toward the bar. "Champagne?"

"Just water, please."

As they waited for their drinks, Hope scanned the room, trying to see which faces were familiar.

"Still nervous?" Colin asked, studying her profile.

Hope accepted her water from the bartender. "Just wondering which shark in this tank will try to take a bite out of me first."

"No one will touch you," Colin stated with quiet intensity. "You're mine tonight. They all know it."

A shiver raced down Hope's spine that had nothing to do with fear.

"There's Roland," Colin nodded toward a portly man with thinning hair who stood near the photo display.

Hope studied him. "He hasn't aged as well as you."

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