The woman who put him in prison and ruined his reputation. Rafael barely survived the scandal, and wasn’t she engaged just days ago?
Not to mention her being fifteen years younger than him and an heiress to the King’s fortune.
He made no secret of hating her and despised even hearing her name. Apparently not enough to stay away from her. Unfortunately for most people who decide to cross us…revenge is in the Wrights’ blood.
I should know, considering what I’m about to do.
“My marriage is a business arrangement.”
I hiss through my teeth, picking up the folder and scanning the contract he created for me. “Mymarriage is a business arrangement, dear cousin. I haven’t even met her, so it could be anyone. Now, you, though…there are a lot of emotions involved there.”
He opens his suit jacket and sits in the chair opposite mine, resting his elbows on its thighs and propping his chin on the back of his hand. “Can’t deny that. I do truly hate my wife with everything in me.”
“You know what they say. There’s a fine line between love and hate.” Truth be told, I give zero fucks about his personal life. But my cousin has been such an untouchable, ruthless,and fiercely cruel wall for the past decade, so to finally have something to give him shit about?
Oh, I could never pass up on such an opportunity.
“If you are being romantic all of a sudden, Orion, then I should warn you. You’re marrying an innocent creature. She might fall for your change of personality and think she can fix you.”
For whatever reason, a foreign feeling of annoyance travels through my veins at his sarcastic and mocking tone when he speaks about my future wife. “Watch your mouth, Rafael.” His eyes flash in warning because no one dares to throw such words at him, but that’s why we’re cousins. Neither of us gives a fuck about the consequences or sugarcoats the bullshit. “Business arrangement or not, she’s still going to be my wife, and you won’t disrespect her.” I should find the sense of protectiveness that stirs in my chest whenever she’s mentioned strange.
Maybe I just feel sorry for her. After all, what else might one feel for her?
Before agreeing to the whole deal with Jones, I asked Rafael to run a background check on the daughter, and, well… the entire report was a single page.
How boring a life does one have to lead for that to happen?
I specifically asked for no pictures because her looks play no factor in my decision-making. Still, based on what I’ve read on that page…she’s been constantly bullied for her figure or academic achievements, stayed a loner most of high school, and never dated. She found solace in books, and that probably led her to open a library that was a failure from the beginning. The owner sold it to her knowing full well about its condition, and that’s something I stored to revisit later.
Nobody fucks with my wife, and for as long as this marriage lasts, she will have the protection of my name and myreputation. No fool will get to say to anyone that he managed to trick my own wife.
One close friend and no notable ex-boyfriends, just endless failed dates with losers.
Based on the report, she is kind, cares about flowers and books, and mostly stays indoors. Never even traveled abroad, which I find strange, given her family’s fortune. To summarize, she’s a far cry from the women I usually pick, and that plays in my favor.
Everyone would believe I truly fell in love. And since she didn’t seem to have a malicious bone in her body, no one would think she married me for the money or to get my inheritance.
I couldn’t have chosen a more perfect bride if I tried.
“Your newfound respect for matrimony is astonishing. That being said, noted on the wife.” Rafael finally speaks up, adjusting his cuff links. “I’ve created a beneficial contract for both parties and a prenup.” He raises his splayed hand. “I don’t want to hear it. Based on what I found out, she has a complicated relationship with her father. Unresolved daddy issues tend to create problems during divorces when Daddy dearest thinks he can use his unwanted child to his advantage. Let’s not give Jones any opportunities.”
Using the word “complicated” when it comes to Jones’s pure hatred for the girl is being considerate and generous.
He made it clear that his illegitimate child was the bane of his existence when his wife left him because of it. She died in a car accident a few months later, so he ended up doting on their only son and taking out all his frustrations on his daughter.
Another thing that speaks about his less-than-stellar character and explains his desperation to save the family legacy for that idiot.
If it wasn’t for my inheritance, I would have told him to fuck off. I despise parents playing favorites.
And I despise parents who blame their innocent children for their mistakes even more.
Picking up an apple, I take a bite and welcome the sweet taste, only to see my father stumbling to the side and dropping his whiskey bottle on the floor, the brown liquid spilling all around him. “Didn’t I tell you to stay in your room?” he bellows, hurling his empty glass in my direction. I have a second to dodge before it hits the wall and shatters into tiny pieces, the glass flying in different directions. I wince when one sharp piece touches my cheek. “Why can’t you learn to stay put? Useless, just like your mother.”
“Did you add the one final clause to it?” I ask, and he nods. “Then we are good. The press needs to find out about the marriage as soon as possible.”
“I’ll leak the pictures, so try to look happy.”
“Like you did on yours?” I fire back, and he scowls. “For a second there, I believed you fell in love.”
