Mrs Ruby Angelini.
I might faint, seeing it written like that. It’s far more real than when I saw the wedding certificate, because Dante arranged this.
That’s my name. For now. I can’t fully comprehend it, but my heart is light and my mouth is doing a thing. Smiling.
“It’s to buy anything you need,” he says. “To be comfortable. While you’re here,” he adds, almost as an afterthought. “I want you to make yourself at home. Maybe decorate? Or get some more books?”
“Thank you!” I’m grinning as I tilt my head up to look into Dante’s face.
He got me a credit card with my married name on it. That has to mean something, right? If this were temporary, he could just give me a stack of cash if he thought it mattered that I buy things.
“It’s so cool.” The card is matte and almost silky. I gaze at the name.Mrs Ruby Angelini. It gives me a tingle down my spine. “I’ll keep it forever!”
He tilts his head. “Cards expire in a few years, you know.”
“Right, yes.” I do know that. I’m just acting like he’s declared everlasting devotion and I’m his wife permanently, when actually he’s… I’m not sure what he’s doing. But it’s not love.
My smile drops.
“Let me know if there’s anything you’d like me to buy for you, or for the house,” I add, remembering that I need to be a good wife.
He opens and closes his mouth, confused because I am making as much sense as a toddler explaining quantum physics. If he wants something, he’ll buy it himself. He doesn’t need me to do his shopping, he has the internet and staff. Because he’s abillionaire.
Ugh, I’m such an idiot.
“I thought more for you to treat yourself, Ruby,” he says gruffly.
“Yeah.” No. I couldn’t do that.
But he mentioned decorating. I could sort out his prison-cell aesthetic in the gym downstairs. I’d like to do that for him. Make it nice, soothing but inspiring. I’m toying with the credit card, running my thumb over my name.
“There was something else I wanted to talk with you about,” he adds, and the caution in his tone makes me look up from the card.
Oh god, that sounds bad.
“Sure!” I sound as chipper as a squirrel on high-quality drugs. “If it’s about the annulment, don’t worry. I’m going to call a lawyer tomorrow.” I search desperately for a reason I didn’t do it today, that isn’t,I’m pathetically in love with you and attempting to make you love me, even though that’s as likely asa pot-plant winning a talent show. “Now I have this.” I hold up the credit card. “I can pay for their time.”
“I have a team of lawyers on staff.” Dante’s expression is pained. By how stupid I am, no doubt. “I’ll have them visit and talk you through the process. It might not be immediately, as I have other work they need to do first.”
The tightness in my chest eases and I let out a subtle sigh. Hopefully they’re really busy.
Dante notices, brows lowering again. “It’ll be soon,” he grits out. “I promise.”
“Good,” I say faintly.
“But that wasn’t what I wanted to talk about.”
“Oh.” It wasn’t? I suffered all that, and there’smore? Being temporarily married to a man and wanting it to be permanent is like one of those platform games where each time you beat a boss, there’s another, harder level beyond, and on, and on, forever.
I push the card into my pocket. I don’t want him to take it back.
“It’s about breakfast.”
I brighten. “Yes.” That was a win. “I bet it kept you going all day!”
“I didn’t need any food at lunchtime, that’s for sure.”
Ah, that doesn’t sound entirely positive. “Was there a problem?”
