He Chose the Daughter Her Father Tried to Hide
Chapter 1: The Daughter Behind Them
“Choose any of my daughters.”
Victor Aldridge opened his hand toward the three women standing beneath the chandelier. Champagne silk, burgundy satin, midnight blue: he had arranged them as carefully as the flowers beside the door.
Adrian's gaze passed over them.
Behind their shoulders stood a fourth young woman in a faded floral dress, holding a silver tray. She kept her eyes on the cups, as though making herself useful might make her invisible.
“Her.”
Claire looked to either side. When she realized he meant her, her fingers tightened around the tray. A cup clicked against its saucer.
Adrian held out his hand, palm upward.
Her lips parted and closed. She glanced at her father, then back at the stranger, and retreated half a step.
“I… I can't.”
Victor's smile vanished. He stepped toward her.
“You're embarrassing this family!”
Claire lowered her eyes. Adrian raised a hand to stop him, and to her bewilderment, smiled.
“Then I choose you.”
He came closer, stopping beyond the edge of the tray. His smile softened into seriousness.
“But before we marry, there's a truth you need to know.”
Victor went rigid.
Claire stared at Adrian. “I haven't agreed to marry you.”
“No,” he said, lowering his hand. “You haven't. And I shouldn't have spoken as though you had.”
For the first time that afternoon, someone moved aside to give her room.
“The truth is yours whether you ever speak to me again or not.”
