Page 262 of Breeding Her: The Red Flag Edition
The minions could block me for now.
But Everly was coming.
And that was all that mattered.
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I didn’t wait inside. Instead, I paced out in the cold, waiting for Lawrence to bring her to me. The registry office stood tall and elegant, one of the city’s listed historic buildings. Its cream and gold decor was exactly what Everly had asked for—simple, tasteful, regal.
So where the hell was she?
“That’s your car,” Conrad said quietly beside me.
My head snapped around. Sure enough, my sleek black Bentley was easing around the corner. My breath caught the second I saw her through the window. The door opened—Giselle ran forward to help—and for a second, my feet wouldn’t move.
She wore a traditional Indian cream and gold ensemble. Different from Kiran’s outfit. Her top was cropped, baring her midriff, and somehow it made her look even more radiant. The sheer scarf was pinned into her hair, glittering with gold, and trailed down her back like a whisper of royalty. She wore matching jewellery, the centrepiece resting against her forehead.
Her friend fussed with the scarf, adjusting it so it draped just right on either side. Her aunt had been about to rush forward, but paused when she caught my eye. I gave a quick nod.
Everly glanced between us and did a double take—recognition dawning slowly just before the woman pulled her into a teary embrace.
Eris had cut that side of her family out years ago. Burned every bridge the second they stopped handing her money. But somehow, these women—Everly’s kin—were here now.
The PI’s file had helped me find them. I’d quietly reached out after the sonogram.
There were tears, soft chatter, and careful dabbing of her cheeks as her friends tidied up her makeup. I still didn’t approach. This wasn’t my moment.
“Quickest divorce and remarriage I’ve ever seen,” Conrad murmured.
“When you know, you know,” I said without looking at him.
Finally, Everly turned toward me. Her eyes were glassy but sure. She walked slowly, surrounded by women who loved her, and for the first time in my life—I felt completely… undone.
She held out her hand to me, bangles jingling softly. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
I nodded, but I had to take a breath to steady myself. “You’re mine, Everly,” I said, wrapping her fingers in mine. “And I’ll always do whatever it takes to keep you smiling.”
Her fingers squeezed mine. Light caught the diamond I’d placed on her hand days ago. A perfect shimmer of gold and sparkle. Just like her.
“Now let’s make you Mrs Voss for life.”
She dabbed at her eyes with a tissue crumpled in her fist, then lifted her chin. Straightened her spine like the warrior she was.
Eris had tried to break her.
But I was going to build Everly into something higher than her mother ever dreamed of being.
Chapter 18
Everly
The day was perfect, and so completely unexpected. Silas blew me away by inviting my dad’s sister. I met cousins I never even knew existed. For the first time, I felt… connected. Rooted. Like I hadn’t just dropped out of the sky with no real ties to anyone but my grief.
Why hadn’t I ever questioned the story my mother fed me? She told me my dad’s family wanted nothing to do with me after he died. That they’d rejected me because I was mixed race. And I believed her.
Why wouldn’t I?
I was just a kid trying to survive her contempt. I never imagined there could’ve been love waiting on the other side of that wall she built. I never would’ve had the courage to seek them out myself—not with the fear of being rejected hanging over me.
