“She wanted all the Ashford women to wear it on their wedding days.”
Eleanor corrected her.
“Women marrying Ashford men.”
Caroline glanced at her mother.
“That’s what I meant.”
The bracelet was heavy with diamonds and sapphires.
I wore it during dinner.
Later, in our room, I removed it carefully and placed it back in the box.
Julian watched from the bed.
“You didn’t like it?”
“I loved it.”
“Then why aren’t you wearing it tomorrow?”
“It doesn’t feel like mine.”
“It was given to you.”
“It felt loaned.”
He laughed softly.
“That’s your anxiety talking.”
I turned.
“What does that mean?”
“It means my family gives you something meaningful, and you immediately search for rejection inside it.”
“I didn’t search. Your mother corrected Caroline to clarify that the bracelet belongs to women marrying into the name.”
“That’s tradition.”
“There you are.”
He frowned.
“What?”
“Explaining them.”
“I’m not explaining anything.”
“You are.”
He sat up.
“We are not starting a fight the night before our wedding.”
“I didn’t start one.”
“Natalie.”
His voice had the exhausted warning I knew too well.
I looked at the bracelet box.
“Fine.”
He reached for me.
“Come to bed.”
I joined him, but we slept facing opposite directions.
The following morning, Bellamy House became crowded before sunrise.
Florists moved through the hallways carrying white roses and green branches
