He ignores my jab, although my mind swirls with all the spiraling thoughts. Marriage in name only? Who would believe in such foolishness?
Then again…
The man decided to get married on a whim, so maybe he really needs to be married in order to achieve something. Orion won’t even lift a pinky if it doesn’t benefit him.
Except I don’t want to be the collateral damage in whatever he has planned next.
“I will give you one million dollars to fix this place and pay off all your debts. You’re sinking, Diana, and unless you listen to me, you will lose this good-for-nothing bookstore. And end up homeless.” He huffs. “You refused to listen when I warned you about your useless delusions.”
His words are akin to invisible knife stabs, puncturing my flesh and drawing blood. At this moment, I wish for an actual knife to cut me open. Physical pain is way more bearable than the internal one.
“It might come as a shock to you, Father. I don’t sell myself in order to fix my financial situation.” Not that I judge women who do, but in this case, how insulting is this?
The man called my mother a vindictive whore his whole life and expects me to act just like her to save their asses?
He still hates her so much and he doesn’t give a damn about my feelings.
I point at the door once again. “Try offering him something else. I’m not for sale.”
He buttons up his coat. “Careful, Diana. Actions have consequences, and you wouldn’t want your grandmother to face yours, would you?”
Swallowing hard, I look at him, dread filling every bone in my body at the implication. “She’s your mother.”
He huffs. “She stopped being my mother when she brought you to my house and decided to raise you as our own. She chose you, so now her destiny lies in your hands. Either agree to the marriage or I’ll stop paying for her care at the nursing home. Just imagine what living on her own with her Alzheimer’s would do to her.” He grabs his umbrella and finally leaves my library. My heart beats wildly as thousands of scenarios play in my head.
One thought remains exceptionally loud and vivid.
I will have to marry Orion Wright tomorrow.
Because I could never allow my father to destroy the only person who ever loved me.
CHAPTER THREE
“Vows can be deceiving.
For we promise a lot of things we don’t intend to keep.
But vows are always binding.
We should be careful, because the thing about words and intentions?
They tend to have witnesses and consequences.”
Orion
Orion
Grabbing the jacket from my chair, I put it on as three knocks announce someone’s arrival, before a man enters without waiting for me to let him in.
Although I shouldn’t be surprised.
He rarely, if ever, asks anyone for permission for anything.
He wears his signature smirk while his green eyes glisten with amusement and a coldness that usually sends chills down everyone’s spines. “As your lawyer, I have to warn you that this idea of yours has a lot of risks that might and probably will cost you billions of dollars.” His deep voice booms, alerting everyone to his domineering presence, while he throws the thickblack folder on the table. “As your cousin, though…bravo. I always knew you’d find a way to outsmart the fucker and secure yourself a deal of a lifetime.”
We share a long-drawn-out look, and our laughter fills the space as we embrace each other in a one-armed hug. “Rafael Wright himself is complimenting me. The marriage truly changed you.” He narrows his eyes, and I smirk, although inwardly I wonder how the fuck he ended up hitched in the first place.
To Emmaline King, no less.
