Unknown P.O.V.

"It begins today," he said. "The Centennial which marks the end of an era."

She smiled. "Have you reached out to your contacts yet? Will they be able to get us in?"

He nodded.

"All we have to do now is wait."

- - -

Evelyn's P.O.V.

"If you do this, you will not get my help!"

"I don't need your help, I just need you to trust me."

Adam was not happy with his father.

That morning, someone brought up the plans Adam had for Europe to his father and it was clear that Malcom did not approve.

"They are our biggest ally! What will you do if a war comes and you no longer have them on your side?" Victoria asked. "You could lose everything!"

I rolled my eyes.

No one invited you.

In fact, she had invited herself into the office, yet again, to hear the argument that would ensue.

"I'm not asking for permission," Adam said to her.

I could tell he was angry. Both because his father had strolled into his office, unannounced and without warning, and because Malcom was trying to argue with him.

"Son, do you realize what this is going to do to you? You cannot rule from this place when they are an ocean away, it is impossible!"

"I've done it with Australia for more than a hundred years," Adam pointed out.

"That was for the betterment of the entire Lycanthrope population! You knew Eaton was corrupt and you took action..."

Jace—who was sitting next to me on the couch, watching—tensed at the mention of his father.

"...This is different, though," Malcom finished. "You are doing this only for the power and I cannot object more strongly."

Adam shook his head.

"My mind is made up."

Malcom's shoulders slumped in defeat and Victoria scoffed.

"Something you would like to add?" Adam asked her, glaring.

She looked away.

"I don't want you to make the same mistakes I did," Malcom said. "I conquered South America out of a thirst for power and it cost me your mother."

Malcom glanced at me and then back at Adam.

"Don't make the same mistake, my son."

Adam's jaw clenched.

"I am nothing like you. This has been planned for years. I have strategized and planned this entire thing down to the hour. I am in control."

Malcom's eyes were filled with rage as he glanced at Jace and I.

"Do you both actually support this asinine idea?"

Jace and I both nodded.

Malcom growled and turned, storming out of the room with Victoria hot on his heels.

"I want a shadow on them both," Adam said to Jace. "I don't want any communication leaving this castle for the next twenty-four hours. When the guests arrive, make sure neither my father, Victoria, or any of her ladies-in-waiting attempt to make contact with someone on the European side."

"What do you want me to do about Tyler?" Jace asked.

"What does he know?"

Jace shook his head. "Nothing. He's still oblivious."

"Make sure he stays that way."

Jace stood up and left the room.

Adam sighed and slumped down onto the couch beside me.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" I asked him.

"Please don't make me argue with you too-"

"I'm not asking you to reconsider, I'm asking if you're sure," I said.

He nodded. "I'm sure."

"I'll trust your judgement," I sighed.

Adam took my hand in his. "Thank you."

My mind immediately flashed back to the night before.

He said he loved me.

Obviously, I had pretended I was asleep after I heard him say it. But in reality, I didn't fall asleep for the next hour after that because my mind was racing.

Do I love him? I barely know him... We've only known each other for a few weeks. This is moving way too fast.

"Darling?"

I immediately snapped out of it.

"What?"

Adam's eyes studied me.

"I asked what you were so lost in thought about..."

I panicked.

"Oh, just going over a few last-minute Centennial things in my head, sorry."

He didn't look entirely convinced but changed topics anyway.

"Have you heard any news about Warren Chandler?"

I shook my head.

"I think he's digressing," I said honestly.

"From what?"

"Sanity. Vega told me he asked Mrs. Chandler when his parents were coming back into town."

"And?" Adam asked. "What's wrong with that?"

"He's an orphan. He grew up in an orphanage. He never had any parents, not even foster parents."

Adam rubbed his hand across his jaw as he took the information in.

"I do wonder what happened to make him go mad..."

I shrugged. "Who knows what happened to him. The only thing he remembers is blood, lots of it."

Adam's eyes narrowed as he thought.

"Where was he found anyways?" I asked.

Why had I not asked that earlier?

"In the forest, about two miles away from his house."

I thought about this for a moment.

"I think I'll order a toxicology screen to be run on him. It's been a few days, but maybe it'll come up with something," Adam said.

Toxicology screen?

"You think he's been doing drugs?" I asked.

Adam laughed and shook his head.

"No, I just want to see if there's anything unusual in his system. Maybe someone drugged him up a little too much and he's suffering amnesia because of it."

We were silent for a few minutes as we both thought the situation over.

After a while, my mind began to wonder to my father.

"Has anyone found any trace of my dad?" I asked.

Adam shook his head wearily.

I sighed. I had known the answer to my question before I had even asked it.

Where could he be? Where is my mother?

Adam placed his hand on my thigh.

"We'll find them," he assured me.

"You keep saying that," I huffed. "We've gotten nowhere."

"My men are very vigilant. We found Warren Chandler didn't we? We will find your father and your mother."

I swallowed back tears and Adam rubbed my leg reassuringly.

"Don't let it worry you. I'll take care of it, I promise. I'm in control here."

I was unconvinced of this, but I laid my head on his shoulder.

"People will be here in less than three hours. Go make sure everything is the way you want it and start getting ready. I'll be back in the room to get you at seven."

I stood up and Adam did as well.

As I turned to leave, he placed his hands on my arms to stop me.

"Don't worry," he repeated, moving his hands up to my jaw. His thumbs brushed my cheeks and he smiled. "It's going to be fine."

He leaned in to kiss me and I closed my eyes, melting into his touch.

I certainly hope so.

- - -

After being assured by Liu that the planning was finished and there was nothing left to do but wait until people began to arrive, I went upstairs to get ready.

I took a long shower. After that, I did my makeup and curled my hair. Once I was satisfied with how I looked, I walked out into the bedroom in a towel to find a dress to wear.

I walked over to the clothes rack full of hanging dresses and browsed through them.

I got to the pink dress and stopped.

"I like that one the best."

I screamed and turned around to see Adam standing directly behind me, laughing.

"You scared me, you jerk!"

I swatted at him and he caught my wrist.

"You're cute."

I rolled my eyes. "I didn't even hear you come in."

"I'm very stealthy," he said, winking. "You look beautiful by the way."

He lifted my hand up to his mouth and kissed the inside of my palm.

"Thanks," I said, pulling my hand away.

I turned back to look at the dresses and was considering the pink one when his arms slid around my waist.

"I can help you change, if you like."

I laughed. "You're funny."

"I'm being serious."

"That's what's so funny."

"C'mon," he prodded. "I'll close my eyes and I won't peek."

"Yes, you will!" I exclaimed. "That's the whole point of helping me change."

"I won't," he insisted. "You have my word."

I rolled my eyes. "Mhm."

I grabbed the dress off the rack and carried it over to the wardrobe where I gathered a strapless bra and panties.

"Good choice," he said, referring to the rose-colored thong I had grabbed.

I tried not to blush as I went into the bathroom.

I put on the bra and panties before I pulled out the thin-strapped silk gown and stared in horror at the row of buttons that cascaded down the back of the dress, almost to the butt.

I slowly began to unbutton the dress and was soon able to slide into it.

The silk fabric felt like air against my skin. It was so soft and the beaded bodice glistened in the light.

Only problem was: I couldn't button it.

The tiny buttons had been a pain to undo when I was standing in front of them, but trying to do them backwards presented an entirely new set of problems.

I attempted at rebuttoning them but was only able to get one clasped successfully.

I groaned.

"What's wrong?" Adam asked through the door. "Does it not fit?"

"It fits fine," I grumbled.

"What's the problem then?"

I sighed and facepalmed.

I can't believe I'm about to say this.

"I... I can't get it buttoned."

"Sounds like you're in a compromising situation."

I rolled my eyes as I made my way over to the door and opened it.

Adam was leaning against the door frame with his arms folded across his chest and a devilish gleam in his eyes.

"Would you like some help?" He offered, lifting an eyebrow.

I said nothing as I turned around slowly and pulled my hair over my shoulder.

I could feel my pulse racing as he began to hook the buttons at my lower back.

"Are my hands cold?" He asked.

"A little."

Liar.

The reason for the goosebumps across my back was not because his hands were cold. It was because he was continually touching my bare back with his fingers as he worked on the buttons.

"I hope your eyes are closed," I joked awkwardly.

"I've seen your breasts before," he said dryly, "and you're worried about me seeing your bare back, which I have also seen before?"

"Don't remind me," I said. "Also, I was joking."

He hummed in response.

Adam finished the buttons and slid his hands across my shoulders and down my arms.

"Finished."

I took a deep breath and pulled away from him, walking into the bathroom and grabbing the matching sheer duster from the bag and putting it on.

"Gorgeous," he commented.

I couldn't help but blush.

"Thank you."

He walked past me, into the bathroom and turned on the shower.

I walked over to his bed and sat down.

My mind was racing at all the thoughts of Mr. Chandler, my father and mother, Vega and Jace, Malcom, and Adam's plans for Europe.

Will this headache ever go away? I thought to myself, massaging my temples.

I heard the shower turn off, and soon Adam came out of the bathroom in a towel.

"Could you hand me that?" He asked, pointing to the dust cover beside me.

I grabbed it by the hanger and handed it to him.

"What is it?" I asked.

"I got a dress as well."

The unamused look on my face made him laugh at his own joke.

"It's a tuxedo, love."

He went over to the wardrobe and grabbed a pair of boxer briefs.

"Do you have a hair dryer?" He asked me, attempting to towel-dry his hair.

My eyebrows furrowed.

"Yeah, it's in here."

I got off the bed and walked into the bathroom. I pulled my hairdryer from the drawer and Adam walked into the bathroom in his boxer briefs, hanging the tux on the towel hook.

I handed it to him and he looked at it, unsure of what to do.

"What's wrong?" I asked him.

"I've never used a hairdryer before," he admitted. "But I can't put my suit on while my hair is wet."

"Would you like me to help you?"

He nodded and I put the plug into the outlet and turned it on.

I reached up to try to begin to dry his hair, but he was so tall that I couldn't reach properly.

Adam smiled at my struggle and picked me up and lifted me onto the countertop.

Now, I was nearly eye-level with his mouth and it was easier.

I ran my fingers through his hair as I dried it, trying to keep myself distracted from his intense staring and naked chest.

I finished and turned the dryer off.

"Thank you," he said.

I hopped down as Adam combed his fingers through his hair, trying to control the natural wave his hair had.

I left the bathroom and put on my heels, Adam emerging a few minutes later as he tied the bow tie around his neck.

I knew I was probably drooling with the way I stared at him.

That man was made to wear a tuxedo.

"One more thing before we go," he said, walking over to me as he reached his hand into his pocket.

He pulled out a little black box and opened it to reveal tear-drop diamond earrings.

"I know it's not the diamond you wanted, but I figured these would hold you over until you get the ring."

My eyes widened.

"I got these for you when I ordered the dresses, but they just came in this morning," he explained, pulling one out to show me.

My jaw had dropped to the floor as I watched it sparkle in the setting sunlight that streamed through the window.

"It's too much," I whispered.

"Nonsense," Adam said.

He pulled them both out of the velvet box and handed them to me.

"Be quick about putting them in," He said. "We're already a few minutes late."

Once I was over the initial shock, I reached up and put the diamonds in my ears.

With those earrings, the dress, and the shoes, I was certain the worth of everything I was wearing would have bought a nice house.

How did I go from a drunkard's daughter who couldn't afford my own groceries to this?

"You look stunning," he said, kissing me on the forehead.

"Now, let's not keep anyone waiting any longer. Shall we?" He asked, opening the bedroom door for me to walk through.

We walked downstairs and I could hear the chatter of the hundreds of people who were in the ballroom as we approached it.

Adam grabbed my hand and pulled it up to rest on his arm. I held on for dear life as the doors were opened for us.

I took one look at the hundreds of people and gulped.

So it begins.

- - -