Chapter 41


    But the guilt continued to mount. Her lies had trickled so far off course from the simple n she’d


    initially concocted. Now she was lying to sweet, innocent people, intruding in this family event where


    she didn’t belong. She’d likely be in photographs of this day and when Nigel or Ellen saw them, they’d


    have to relive this all over again. The betrayal and the deceit.


    Ellen reached for her hand. “Then I do hope we can get to know each other more. I swear I feel like I


    know you from somewhere, but it must just be how quickly we connected. You know how with some


    people, you just have that instant click.”


    Yeah, that must be it.


    “Anyway, I’m just really d my brother found someone he actually wanted to bring home,” Ellen went


    on. “He’s always so busy working, maybe you can convince him to take more time off and visit his


    family.”


    “I’ll see what I can do,” Sophie promised with a smile.


    Ellen leaned in and gave a one-armed hug before turning back to the reception and her


    guests...leaving Sophie alone with her drink and thoughts bouncing around. Even though this was all


    based on lies, Sophie had very good intentions, but she didn’t know if anyone other than her brothers


    would see that.


    Even a ss of champagne wasn’t making Sophie feel better or helping her forget her problems. Once


    this magical day was over and she and Nigel were on their way back to New York, she would have to


    talk to him. She might have started this whole vendetta against Miranda, but the entire n had


    snowballed and what could have potentially been the greatest thing in Sophie’s life was now likely


    ruined to the point of no return.


    Nigel swirled his grandmother around on the dance floor and caught Sophie’s eye. When he sent her a


    wink, her entire body jolted from love.


    She did love him. There was no denying the truth now that it stared her in the face...literally.


    Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Now she had to figure out if she could clean up this mess she’d created, manage to reim her rightful


    inheritance, and hold on to the man she didn’t know she’d been looking for. Oh, and wait to see if he


    could fall for her because he was still unsure.


    Sophie didn’t see a way to get out of the impending broken heart and she had nobody to me but


    herself.


    Fourteen


    Sophie bundled her coat closer around her neck as she made her way from the car to Nigel’s jet.


    They’d spent another day at Shrewsbury Hall after the wedding, but now they needed to get back to


    work.


    And she needed to get back to reality...which meant she needed to tell Nigel the truth.


    Sophie figured once they were settled in for their flight would be the perfect time. He couldn’t storm out


    and maybe she could get him to see how all of this had gotten out of her control.


    Not that she would make excuses. There were none. She’d tantly lied to him and each time he


    called her Roslyn, she felt...well, like she was her own dirty little secret.


    How could she have expected to prove Miranda was evil when Sophie had been doing evil herself?


    Sophie boarded the jet as nerves curled through her. She’d spoken with both of her brothersst night


    and they supported her decision to tell Nigel. They’d agreed that maybe there was no dirt to be found


    on Miranda. They would have to find another way to get their property.


    Settling into one of the white leather sofas, Sophie fastened her seat belt as she waited for Nigel to


    finish speaking with the pilot. She wasn’t nearly as nervous about flying this time, perhaps because she


    had too much on her mind. No matter how many times she rehearsed her speech, she was terrified to


    just let those words out in the open.


    Nigel stepped thro


    ugh to the cabin and his eyes immediately locked with hers. Her time was up.


    “Are we all set to go?” she asked.


    Nigel sighed and settled back against his seat. “We’re all good.”


    “You don’t sound good.”


    He lifted a shoulder and nced back at her as heced his fingers in hers. “I hate leaving my family. It


    never gets easier. That’s the real reason I don’t visit more. My grandmother thinks it’s because I work


    so much, but that’s not it. I can carve out time, it’s just difficult toe here and then have to leave


    again.”


    Sophie understood that need to be close to family. She loved her brothers with her entire heart and


    couldn’t imagine living in another country where she couldn’t see them anytime she wanted.


    “Do you ever think of moving back?” she asked.


    “Not really,” he admitted. “I mean, I love it here, but I’ve made a home and a life in New York. I need to


    visit home more often, though.”


    “Your grandmother and sister would love that,” Sophie told him. “Family means everything at the end of


    the day.”


    “I agree. Which is why I’m hoping you’ll join me when I return next month.”