Chapter 1 Chapter 1

Darcie Mayo POV:

My fingertips traced the delicate lace of my wedding gown. It hung before me like a promise, the silk and pearls glowing in the soft light of the Waldorf Astoria's bridal suite. Just looking at it made my heart beat faster, a warm flush crept up my cheeks.

I moved to the velvet box on the dresser. Inside, nestled on a bed of satin, was a single strand of pearls. My mother's necklace. Her only legacy.

The pearls were warm, not with heat, but with a life of their own, like they held the memory of her skin. I remembered her telling me, her voice a soft whisper in a fading memory, that they were her grandmother's before her. A symbol of purity, a blessing passed down through the women of our family. This necklace was the anchor to a past I barely knew, a physical manifestation of the home and heritage I craved so desperately.

I fastened the clasp at the back of my neck. The cool touch of the pearls against my skin sent a shiver through me, a flicker of unease so faint I almost missed it. I dismissed it, surrendering to the joy that flooded through me.

From the floor-to-ceiling window, Manhattan glittered below, a galaxy of lights laid out just for me. I felt like I was on top of the world, the luckiest woman alive.

My phone lit up on the nightstand. A message from Hugh.

Sleep well, my bride. Can't wait to see you in that dress.

A sweet, involuntary smile curved my lips. You too, my groom, I typed back.

I thought of him on one knee in Central Park, the autumn leaves a kaleidoscope of red and gold around us. His eyes had been so sincere, his voice thick with emotion as he promised to make me the happiest woman in the world, to build a family so strong it would erase the shadows of my childhood. He knew how much I ached for that, for the love I'd lost when my mother died. His promise was the key that had unlocked the most guarded parts of my heart.

I poured myself a glass of the champagne the hotel had sent up, the bubbles fizzing excitedly. Lifting the flute towards the window, I whispered to the city, to the stars, to her. "Mom, I found him. I found my happiness."

The alcohol warmed me, making my cheeks flush and my thoughts bold.

What was Hugh doing right now? Was he in his suite, too excited to sleep, surrounded by his groomsmen?

An impulse, sharp and thrilling, shot through me. I wanted to see him. I wanted to share this perfect, overflowing moment of happiness with him, right now.

He was in the presidential suite on the top floor. Tradition said the bride and groom shouldn't see each other before the wedding, but breaking the rules felt impossibly romantic. A secret, just for us.

I'd give him a surprise. Just like this, in my silk robe, with my mother's pearls around my neck.

I checked my reflection, fluffing my hair with my fingers. A nervous, excited energy hummed beneath my skin. Grabbing my room key, I slipped a cashmere coat over my robe, leaving it unbuttoned.

The hallway was silent, the plush carpet swallowing the sound of my footsteps.

My heart hammered against my ribs as I pressed the button for the penthouse floor.