Chapter 11

Sonia got off her plane, snapped a picture of the city lights, and instinctively switched accounts to log it.

Her first entries on that alt had been written in hope — hope that Zachary would stumble across them and come to her. Later, once she'd realized he wouldn't, she'd started using the account like a diary. Good days, bad days, all of it.

The moment she opened the app, a new notification appeared. From Zachary. A message so long it took two full screens to even preview.

She didn't have the patience. She just hit unfriend, posted her photo, and walked toward the exit.

Then she heard a warm voice. "Sonia?"

She looked up and recognized him immediately.

Sheldon Sterling. The only son of the Sterling family. Her arranged merger.

She was suddenly, stupidly nervous. She smoothed her coat, summoned a smile, and started toward him.

The second she lifted her hand to shake his, a heavy cashmere coat settled across her shoulders.

She blinked up at him, too startled to react.

He looked almost embarrassed. "Sorry. I was worried about the temperature difference between New York and Ashford Bay. I didn't want you to get cold. If it's too forward, I'll be more careful next time."

Before she knew what she was doing, she'd caught his hand as he was pulling it back. She smiled. "No. It's — thank you."

He curled his fingers carefully around hers and led her toward the parking lot.

The overhead lights stretched their shadows long. Sonia glanced down at their hands. Her lips curved.

Maybe an arranged marriage wasn't the end of the world.

He settled her into the passenger seat, then walked around and got in.

As they pulled away, he noticed her fighting sleep, trying to keep up a polite conversation. He cut in gently, "It's okay. If you're tired, sleep. I'll get you home safe."

She flushed. "I'm not tired."

But he drove smoothly, and she didn't last long.

He parked in the Sterling driveway without opening his door. He just turned his head and watched her sleep. Everything he'd kept locked down for years leaked into his face at once.

He texted the family, told them to turn in, he'd handle it.

Then he got out, carefully lifted her from the car, and carried her to her room. He instructed the housekeeper to have a light meal waiting for her when she woke up, and fresh clothes laid out.

Right before he closed her door, his mouth pulled into the smallest smile.

"Good night, Sonia."

Sonia slept beautifully.

When she woke, looked around the unfamiliar-but-somehow-familiar bedroom, it took her a moment to orient. Then she groaned and buried her face in the pillow.

She had meant to close her eyes for a few minutes. But he'd been beside her, and somehow she'd felt safe enough to pass out for the entire night without so much as saying hello to his family.

Mid-groan, there was an urgent knock. Sheldon pushed the door open, worried. "What happened? Are you okay?"

She froze.

He retreated, flustered. "Sorry — I heard you shout. I thought something was wrong."

She went red to her ears. Thank God she was fully dressed.

She took a breath. "It's nothing. I was just — I never got to properly meet your family last night. I was embarrassed."

She watched his mouth twitch into a grin before he could stop it and felt even worse.

He arranged his face into something more composed. "Everyone went to bed early. You couldn't have met them anyway. It's fine."

She exhaled, changed, and went down with him.

The Sterlings were a big family. Word that Sonia had arrived had summoned every aunt and uncle in town to see the future Mrs. Sterling.

Feeling her nerves, Sheldon took her hand and made the introductions.

They were warm. A quick exchange of pleasantries, and then one after another brought out their welcome gifts — Cartier, Harry Winston, deeds. Sonia's personal net worth doubled inside of thirty minutes.

She tugged discreetly at Sheldon's sleeve, mortified.

He caught her fingers and reassured her, soft. "Don't feel bad. They're giving because they want to. This is just the welcome gift. Our wedding ones will be a lot more than this."

She gave up arguing.

After the introductions, the Sterlings told Sheldon to take her out and show her the city.

Sonia had been planning to visit her aunt on her own later, but since Sheldon had something planned, she tucked it away for another day.

An hour in, their car turned down a street that looked familiar.

She squinted out the window, uncertain, afraid to hope — and shot Sheldon a questioning look.

He pretended not to notice. He didn't even glance at her. But the second she turned to look out the window, his mouth curved.

The car stopped in front of Margaret's brownstone. Sonia whipped around, eyes bright. "How did you know I wanted to come see my aunt?"

He lifted one finger, casually hooking it around hers. He arched a brow. "Secret."

She bit back a smile and let him lead her in, their fingers linked.

Margaret must have been tipped off. She was waiting at the door. Her eyes rimmed red the second she saw Sonia. "Sweetheart."

Sonia let go of Sheldon's hand and ran over to hug her aunt. They cried for a while.

When they finally pulled apart and remembered Sheldon, he stepped forward politely to greet Margaret. Margaret smiled back, but something complicated flickered in her eyes.

She made up an excuse to send him off, pulled Sonia to the side, and whispered, "Sweetheart — before you got here today, someone named Zachary Blackwood came by."

Sonia's stomach lurched. She hadn't expected him to track her aunt down. And she couldn't read why he would.

Shouldn't he be at home cooing over Ember?