The Hockey Captain’s Unwanted Wife (Blair and Grayson) novel Chapter 5

Chapter 5

~BLAIR~

I stood at the altar beside Grayson Shaw, my hand trapped in his, and I hated how aware I was of every point of contact.

His palm was warm, and somehow the simple press of his skin against mine sent small, traitorous tingles racing up my arm.

My body clearly had not gotten the message that this man was the enemy. That he already belonged to someone else. That he had openly planned to make me hate him.

I scolded myself silently.

Stop it. He’s nothing. This is nothing.

The ceremony hall was packed with people who mattered to our families—league officials, business partners, distant relatives who had flown in for the spectacle. Cameras lined the back.

It was supposed to be a powerful union with no hint of the resentment simmering between the two people standing at the center of it.

I let my eyes move over the seated guests, searching for a familiar face I both wanted and dreaded to see.

Chase. Sophie. There was no sign of them. Part of me felt relief. Another part—smaller and more bitter, felt robbed of the chance to watch his expression when the vows were spoken.

But even if he didn’t attend today, he would see it on his phone, just like I watched his wedding to Sophie.

Grayson’s fingers shifted slightly against mine. I glanced up at him from the corner of my eye. He stared straight ahead, jaw tight, expression hard.

If he felt anything about holding my hand, he gave nothing away. That only made the unwanted warmth in my palm more irritating.

The officiant began the vows.

I repeated the words when prompted. To have and to hold. For better or worse. They were just sentences. Empty formalities spoken for an audience. And yet, standing there with Grayson’s hand wrapped around mine, the promises felt more serious than they should have. Like the universe was listening even if neither of us meant them.

Grayson’s voice, when he spoke his part, was low and controlled. He never once looked at me while he said them.

I told myself I was glad. I did not want him pretending to mean those words for the sake of the people around us.

Then movement at the back of the hall caught my attention.

I held in a gasp.

Chase.

He stood near the entrance in a dark suit, Sophie at his side, both of them late enough to make an entrance. Maybe they’d intentionally done that, Sophie was always the type of girl that loved the attention to be on her. It was part of the reason that she slept with half the team. And also the reason she’d chosen to wear such a flashy dress today.

Chase’s eyes locked onto mine across the distance. For a split second I saw shock, then something darker. Anger. Possession he no longer had any right to feel.

Good. That’s exactly the reaction I was hoping for.

The officiant smiled. “You may kiss the bride.”

A murmur moved through the crowd. It would be rather embarrassing if Grayson refused to kiss me right now, especially with Chase and Sophie watching, waiting for something to laugh about.

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