“I don’t want to leave Kiara on her own,” Annie said.
“Oh, don’t worry about me,” Kiara told her. “Baby boy and I will just hang out here together.”
“Are you sure?” Annie asked, her brow furrowed. “Julian should be here with you.”
“No, seriously, I’m fine.” She didn’t want to sit there by herself, but she also didn’t want them to think she wasn’t able to do it. “Go enjoy yourselves.”
After a moment, Annie nodded, then took Cole’s hand when he offered it. Kiara watched as the couple took to the floor. Their height difference was even more noticeable, but that didn’t stop them from moving together smoothly as they performed an elegant dance.
Kiara glanced over at the wall nearest to their table, taking comfort when her gaze met Lucy’s. The woman gave her a small nod.
“Hello.” The soft greeting had Kiara turning her attention back to the table in time to see a dainty woman with highlighted blonde hair sit down in the chair Cole had recently vacated, leaving one empty seat between them. The woman held out her hand. “I’m Emilia.”
“I’m Kiara.”
“You must be Julian’s wife.”
Kiara hesitated for a moment, her gaze going to where Julian stood with a glass in his hand, still talking to Sean and Ava. “I am.”
“Oh, you’re very lucky. He’s a great catch,” the woman said. “He’s a very handsome man. All the ladies have had their eyes on him. Well, except for me.” She lifted her left hand to reveal a large diamond ring. “I’ve already got my Prince Charming.”
“Actually, the things that make Julian a great catch have very little to do with his looks.”
A finely plucked brow lifted. “Oh really? Why would you say that?”
“He has many other qualities that make him a great man. The fact that he’s handsome isn’t even near the top of that list.”
“Do tell,” Emilia said with a small smile. “I’d love to hear what you think makes him so special.”
Once again, Kiara hesitated. It felt a bit like a trap, but she couldn’t figure out the woman’s angle. “He’s smart and passionate about his work. He is determined when he sets his mind to something. He’s also kind and caring.”
“You definitely sound like a woman in love,” Emilia said, giving her a wink. “I wonder what good qualities Julian would say you have. And if he also feels that he is lucky to have you for a wife.”
And there it was.
Kiara felt the trap closing in and struggled to know how to respond.
“No worries, my dear.” Emilia reached out to pat her hand. “Everyone already knows why he married you. It was well known among the women that if they managed to get pregnant by Julian Burke, he’d probably marry them. And even if it had nothing to do with love, the payoff would be worth it. I assume you thought the same thing, because I doubt he would have married someone like you otherwise.”
Someone like you.
The woman’s words reinforced what Jill had said to her. She would never fit into the Burkes’ world, and there was nothing she could ever do to be good enough for that social circle.
“So, congratulations on being the one who finally captured the man,” Emilia said. “I just hope that it’s really his. But either way, I doubt you’ll have him for long.”
Kiara had no idea what this woman wanted from her. Was a friend of hers one of the women who had wanted to land Julian?
Keeping her expression calm, Kiara gave her a small smile. “I appreciate your… concern, but I assure you, everything is fine.”
The woman stared at her for a long moment, then got to her feet. “For your sake, I hope that’s true.”
Kiara didn’t bother watching Emilia walk away. She stood up, mindful of her heels, then picked up her clutch and made her way to Lucy.
“I’d like to go up to the room now,” she said. “I’m beat.”
“I heard what that woman said to you,” Lucy told her with a frown. “Don’t pay any attention to her.”
“I don’t plan to,” Kiara said. “I just think I’m ready for this evening to be over. I don’t think I really fit into this world.”
