Chapter 19

• Mom and Dad were beaming and looking for all the world like proud parents watching their daughter's fairytale romance unfold. If only they knew the truth about the snake I'd married.
• "Well, it's wonderful to see you, son," Dad declared heartily before striding forward to clap Karl on the shoulder. "We were just telling Lavinia how lucky she is to have a caring, attentive husband like yourself."
• A muscle ticked along Karl's jaw, but his smile didn't falter when he gave a modest shrug. "Luck has nothing to do with it, I'm afraid. I'm simply doing my best to dote on my wife the way she deserves. Isn't that right, my dear?"