“Per my father’s will, I have to be legally married by the age of thirty-six to get the property. It would be hard to prove to the judge that my wife isn’t my wife.”
And I dare anyone to fucking try.
Rafael rubs his chin and rests his ankle on his knee, leaning back in his chair. Judging by his expression, he’s one second away from showing me his infamous temper in all its glory.
I’m afraid that’s a Wright trait.
We have no patience when it comes to things that annoy the fuck out of us.
“It will be easy to put doubts in the judge’s head. The lawsuit might take years to settle, and that’s what Alan’s firm would want because they will still get money for managing it per your father’s will. Either way, it will be a huge loss to us all, and I’m not one to lose, Orion. So get your shit together, or I’ll drop you as a client, family or not.” A beat passes. “And think about Diana. She didn’t sign up to stay your wife indefinitely.” My hold on the towel tightens, wrapping it so hard around my hand that more blood seeps onto the cloth, which doesn’t escape his notice. “Soshe’sthe reason for your shitty mood.”
“Don’t talk about my wife, Rafael. I don’t like it.” In fact, hearing another man utter her name makes me see red. Maybe it’s because I still haven’t claimed her as mine, which makes her fair game to everyone else.
And even I recognize how insane this sounds, but do I give a fuck?
No.
He chuckles, though his eyes stay hollow, and I see simmering anger underneath his amusement. “Whatever is going on between you two, fix it, and fast. I want to close this case and focus on my own marriage. My wife wishes to explore the world with me, and her wish is my command.” My brow rises at his tone, but I get him. If Diana asks me for something, I’ll give it to her in a heartbeat.
She’s a beauty who deserves better than the beast from hell hiding a terrible secret that would make her run for the hills. That’s why I’m avoiding her.
“If you expect me to parade my wife around a bunch of fools just to prove a point, then you’re out of your fucking mind.” I don’t care if that was the original deal. Diana won’t be going around men trying to act like a doting wife so they'll be satisfied.
My wife satisfies only my needs and no one else’s.
Rafael takes out a golden envelope from the pocket of his suit jacket and places it on the desk above the blue folder. I see my name written on it. “Rush and Aileen are having an engagement party in two days at our family’s island. You’re invited, and while the ceremony will be mostly private, we’ll still have trusted reporters taking a few pictures. Seeing you there would calm the rumors and present a united front. The judge is a traditional man who values family above everything else, which would have been a pain in the ass in any other case, but in this one, it gives us the means to sway him to our side.”
Picking up the invitation, I flip it open and ignore the bloodstains smearing it as I read the words. The first sentence makes me halt.
Orion and Diana Wright…
Possessiveness washes over me when I see her sharing my name, because it’s another way to show everyone she’s mine.
Besides the ring that no one fucking sees, as she doesn’t go out.
“If you want my advice…”
“I don’t.”
“Your ego might stand in the way of your happiness, Orion. I’d appreciate my efforts and listen, if I were you.”
“Your ego might be bigger than mine, and the only reason you put so much effort into this conversation is because you don’t like to lose. You’re a married man, Rafael, not a saint.” Hebarks a laugh at this one. “Either way, I’ll handle my temper and fix things in the company.”
“The company doesn’t interest me. If your top executives can’t take the heat, then fire them. They won’t be resilient under pressure.” Can’t argue there, and if grown adults have to run to Elizabeth to handle their troubles instead of facing me directly, they aren’t worthy of my time and resources. “However, the marriage business concerns me. So, my advice…”
“Keep it to yourself.”
He and Rush, his twin brother, could shove their advices down their throats.
Rafael blackmailed his wife into marriage. Rush kidnapped his enemy’s daughter and took her to his private island, where he intended to use her as bait. But he ended up wanting the girl, who was almost half his age, and he fell head over heels in love with her.
Only to discover her powerful family had nothing to do with what happened to their family all these years ago.
My cousins are no experts when it comes to marriages.
“Avoiding your wife won’t make these new, unfamiliar feelings go away. They will just intensify, then blow up in your face when you least expect it. Your possessive instincts will win over your mind that kept you afloat on a tight leash for so long. That’s nature. We can’t fight it.”
Hating how close he comes to the truth, I perch on my desk and ask, sarcasm dripping from my every word, “And one month of marriage makes you an expert on the subject, I guess?”
