SWNOVELS Chapter 46
Chapter 46
Corinna paled as the crowd roared to life, every eye on him as the letter he’d shown me of their sur
gacy was revealed.
“Corinna and Ashton intended to use a surrogate to win our families’ inheritance. Unfortunately for them both, it did not turn out
the way they wanted.”
Damon nodded to Peter, and a spotlight searched through the crowd before finally landing on a single woman hidden in the
back.
It was a brown-haired woman, one easily passable in the crowd, but everyone knew who she was.
The surrogate.
Nervously, she stood up from her spot, glancing at Damon’s cold look and sighing
“I was contacted by Miss Hildebrand and Mr. Steyn to become their surrogate, it is true,” she declared before everyone. “But Mr.
Steyn came onto me, and I couldn’t say no. I became pregnant before the surrogacy, and he told me to stay quiet and pass it off
as Miss Hildebrand’s.”
If I thought it was loud before, it was nothing compared to the sea of whispers after the confession we’d all just heard.
“But Ashton,” the woman cried among the noise, “He told me he’s planning on running away with me tonight! So we can raise the
baby together!”
Damon smirked, fully satisfied now as the press surrounded the woman in full, questions pouring out of them and cameras
flashing. The poor woman looked overwhelmed but also pleased to have all the attention on herself.
Damon glanced down at Corinna’s shell-shocked form, still on her knees and looking like the world had fallen to pieces around
her.
“Game over, Corinna,” Damon said coldly and then stepped off the stage.
Relief poured through me as Damon made his way through the crowd, ignoring everyone who attempted to stop him.
He reached out for me, and I fell willingly into his arms, sheer relief overcoming me.
It was over. It was really over.
A finger pulled up my chin and I met Damon’s eyes, so full of happiness and love and that same relief I was feeling.
“Adelaide Hildebrand,” he declared in the middle of the crowd. “I have loved you for more than twenty years. You are the only
woman I have ever loved and the only one I ever will.”
He cupped my cheeks in his hands and tears rolled down my face.
“Not because of status or money or fame,” he whispered to me. “But for you. The crazy, kind, stubborn, beautiful woman
standing before me. My amazing wife.”
“You’re such a sap!” I hiccupped.
“But I’m your sap.” he grinned.
“All mine,” I whispered just before our lips met. Right before they touched, however, a scream burst out.
“NO!” Corinna screeched from the stage, tears pouring down her face as she stared at us in despair. “Damon loves me! He’s
mine! He’s just tricking everyone!”
But no matter how loud her scream, the crowd had turned tides. Guests exchanged glances, but no one stepped up to take
her side like before.
“I have never loved you,” Damon said, his words like a final nail as she stared at us with wide eyes.
I sighed, glancing up at her in pity. Father looked away from her as if he didn’t know her, and her friends had fled long ago.
She was truly left alone.
She had earned this. I had given her every chance to turn a new leaf, and she had refused. She had chosen this for herself, and
she must reap what she sowed.
“Where were we?” Damon turned back to me with a smirk, and I giggled.
“Right about here,” I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him into me as our lips collided in a symphony only we knew how
to play.
He tasted like fireworks just before daybreak, like summer days spent lying next to the one you love, like the first snow of winter,
like the rainbow that shined after a thunderstorm, and every I love you whispered between lovers.
Damon tasted like home.
“Well, all’s well that ends well, I guess,” I shrugged, sipping my freshly brewed coffee as I glanced through the front page of the
newspaper. “Though, I wish they had chosen a more flattering angle. I look like a mess.”
“Nonsense.” Damon argued, his arm around my waist as I sat in his lap. He kissed my neck, breathing in my scent as he liked to
do. “You look beautiful.”
I rolled my eyes.
To no one’s surprise, the bridal shower fiasco had made front-page news. Luckily. Damon and I had been painted in quite a
positive light. I couldn’t say the same for Ashion and Corinna though.
I flipped the page and nearly spit out my coffee all over the paper.
Staring back at me was Damon-or a picture of him. Dressed in a suit and looking like a million bucks, he was posing in front of a
beautiful building.
“Damon Steyn. How he rose to the top?” I read aloud in disbelief. “You didn’t tell me you released an article about your life.”
“Did I forget to mention that?” Damon smirked. “There’s a special surprise on page four.”
I glared at him, but my curiosity won out as I flipped to the fourth page. On it was an article.
“Damon Steyn has been selected to build the new auditorium for UCLA?” I gasped then turned in his lap to face him.
“Surprise,” he chuckled.
“This is amazing!” I kissed him, deeply and passionately. Damon pulled back after a second, looking vulnerable as he confessed
one last thing.
“It’s named Adelaide Hall.”
“You named it after me?” I breathed.
“Is that okay?” Damon asked, a bit of hesitance on his face which then turned to panic as fat tears rolled down my cheeks.
“You stupid sap!” I sobbed, burying my face into his shirt.
Damon chuckled, “As long as I’m yours, Adelaide.”
He kissed the top of my head, sighing as he held me tightly as I cried from sheer joy.
“And you’re mine,” I clutched his shirt, feeling truly happy. “Forever.”
“You don’t have to do this. You don’t owe them anything.”
I smiled, clutching the large white box in my lap.
“I know.” I said softly glancing over at my loving husband. “But I want to”
Damon sighed, brushing a hand across my cheek. “You’re too kind for your own good.”
“That’s why you love me,” I grinned, leaning forward to kiss the tip of his nose. I opened the car door, dodging his hands with a
laugh as I climbed out with the box held firmly in my hands.
The family mansion loomed overhead, the doors wide open for all of the guests to enter. Damon rounded the car and grabbed
my waist, pressing a short kiss to my lips.
I giggled, forcing him to step back as we turned to the Hildebrand Mansion. It used to scare me as a little girl, but it didn’t
anymore.
It was just a house.
As we stepped inside, it was abnormally quiet despite the supposed happy celebration. It was to be expected after the disaster of
a bridal party had happened.
I heard both the Steyns and Hildebrands had taken a huge hit to their stocks over the last week. My father was sure to be happy
about that.
Speaking of, as we entered the massive gardens in the backyard, I quickly spotted him among the entire family.
Everything was white. A beautiful path of white flower petals had been laid between sets of wooden benches, the aisles
decorated with more flowers.
And under a flower arch was the podium where the groom and bride would be married. The affair was much smaller than 1 ever
expected, with only close family and friends. It was quiet and simple in a way that I didn’t associate with Corinna or Ashton in the
slightest.
Both were missing, but that didn’t surprise me in the least. I had been shocked when I’d received the new date for the wedding.
After talking with my father, it was clear that this was Dalton’s idea.
To save their reputations, the two had to take responsibility. They’d made their bed, and now they must sleep in it.
I tugged on Damon’s hand when I spotted my grandmother sitting quietly on one of the benches. I smiled up at my husband, and
he sighed.
“Fine, fine. I’ll go talk to my grandfather who, by the way, is still wearing a Hawaiian shirt, Damon grumbled.
I laughed as I spotted the floral-patterned adorned old man. In his seventies and still rocking Hawaiian shirts. Damon kissed my
cheek and reluctantly let go of me as he headed toward where my grandfather was talking to his.
His grandfather sent him finger guns as he approached, and I could see Damon dying on the inside.
I headed toward my grandma, taking the seat beside her as I set down the large box.
“Hey, stranger,” I smiled at her.
She glanced at me, her eyes old and sad but still happy to see me. “Hello, Adelaide,” she chuckled.
I knew she was still shocked and disappointed by Corinna’s actions.
“Is Corinna getting ready?” I asked, lightly, brushing invisible fuzz off my dress to distract myself.
“Oh, yes,” Grandma sighed. “I doubt she’s ever going to be ready for this, but it must be done.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier,” I said, softly. “I wanted to but ...
“It’s not your fault, dear.” Grandma smiled at me. “I’m proud of you for standing up for yourself. Too many times you let her just
take whatever she wanted from you. I’m glad you didn’t let it happen this time.”
“Thanks, Grandma.” I leaned my head on her shoulder, shutting my eyes as I enjoyed the moment for what it was.
Bittersweet
“Now, the question is,” Grandma started, and I knew that tone in her voice. I smiled fondly, rolling my eyes as she glanced at me
slyly. “When are you going to have a real wedding?”
“Grandma....” I warned.
“What? I want to see you in your mother’s dress outside of press photos!” Grandma huffed, crossing her arms.
There was no getting past her with this.
I stiffened as I spotted the groom walking up to the pedestal. His face was a mess. Despite the amount of makeup caked on. I
could still see how crooked his nose was and how black and blue he looked.
I gripped my Grandma’s hand.
“You don’t have to stay, dear.” Grandma frowned. “I know what that boy did to you and-”
“It’s okay, Grandma. I’m not here for him,” I turned to her, avoiding anything to do with him.
I was done with Ashton. His father had buried the sexual assault charges, much to Damon’s ire. He promised that Ashton
wouldn’t get away with it, but I couldn’t care less.
As long as he was far away from me, that was all I cared about. I’d been angry enough for a lifetime. Now, I just wanted to be
happy.
“You’ll give the inheritance to Corinna?” I asked softly.
Grandma sighed, gazing up at the sunny sky above us. “Sometimes I think you have too much of your mother in you, Adelaide.
You’re much too kind.”
“That’s what Damon said too.” I grinned. “Is that really such a bad thing?”
“Of course not, dear.” Grandma threw her arm around me, pulling me close. “I’ll give Corinna the inheritance but..”
She glanced at me, the humor on her face disappeared as she asked, very seriously. “Are you truly happy, Adelaide?”
I grabbed her hands, glancing at the ring on my finger with a huge smile. If all those months ago I hadn’t accidentally proposed to
Damon, I doubt I would’ve ever experienced the happiness I had now.
“Yes,” I declared.
I took a deep breath, the box held firmly in my hands as I stood outside the door. I sighed, gathering my courage as I knocked on
the door sharply.
“Go away!” Something thumped against the door as the scream rang out from behind it.
I rolled my eyes. I didn’t expect a warm welcome, but this was ridiculous. My patience worn out, I pushed open the door.
and stepped inside the room.
Or what used to be one.
It looked like a pure warzone with various broken pots and the remains of a mirror on the ground in pieces. The curtains had
been pulled down and practically shredded, and I winced as I saw the bars on the window.
“Have you come to gloat?”
I spun on my heels and flinched at what I saw.
Corinna sat on the floor in the middle of her mess, her beautiful wedding dress in tatters and mascara running down her cheeks.
Most obviously, however, were the rough pair of scissors on the floor and the scattered remains of dark hair.
She glared up at me, exhausted and weary, her hair choppy and uneven.
“No.” I shook my head, kneeling in front of her softly.
“Then why are you here?” she spat out, sounding more tired than angry.
I reached forward, keeping steady and slow even as she glared daggers at me. I brushed the remains of her hair away from her
pretty face, a frown on my lips.
“You look awful,” I said, bluntly.
“No thanks to you!” she sneered, slapping my hand away. “This is all your fault! You think you can come in here and lecture me
like you actually care-”
“Where is your mom?”
Corinna cut off suddenly, her eyes going wide. I watched sadly as tears poured down her face like an endless pool of sorrow.
She sobbed, raw and real and nothing like the fake crocodile tears I was used to.
She covered her face in her hands, wailing out as she curled over.
“She left...” Corinna sobbed. “She left me. She said-she said I was a failure! That she wished I was never born!”
I scooted over to her side, laying a hand on her shoulders as 1 rubbed back and forth, just being there as she cried her fragile
heart out.
Once her tears had dried up, and she could only take deep shuddering breaths, she finally looked up at me..
“Why...why are you being nice to me?” Corinna wiped her face, not caring about her makeup for once as she smeared it all over.
“Why did you even come?”
“I wasn’t going to,” I said honestly. “But I was going through my mother’s things, and I found her journal, and she mentioned you
in it.”
Corinna gave me an incredulous look, and I chuckled, grabbing the box I carried with me. I opened it up and pulled out the
journal, flipping to the right page.
I took a deep breath, glancing at my half-sister before I smiled sadly.
“December 14th, 2001. Today, I met the most adorable little girl, next to my Addie, of course. The only good thing to come out of
my husband’s affair. Her name is Corinna, and she’s four years old, only a year younger than my Addie.
“I’ve been sending money for my husband to give them every month, to buy her everything she needs, but I think his gambling
has gotten the better of him. I can only hope that she is safe and loved where she is. I hope she and Addie can meet one day, I
already love her like she is my own.”
My mother’s words lingered in the air as I softly placed the journal in Corinna’s lap, sharing the page.
Corinna stared down at it, tracing the loopy font with a trembling finger.
“I...” Corinna stuttered, raising her head as she glanced around the destroyed room with wide eyes. She turned to me; the
mascara had smeared down her cheeks like tears.
“I’m sorry,” Corinna trembled. “I...I’m so sorry.”
“You know, I always wanted a sister,” I smiled, tears in my eyes as I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her close. “That’s why
I brought this.”
I pulled the large box close, revealing what I had stashed inside.
“That’s...” Corinna stuttered, glancing at the box and then at me as she trembled, just as teary-eyed as me.
I cupped her cheek, brushing the tears off her face as I smiled.
“Every bride needs a dress.”