My mind whirls, trying to process what he’s done. At first glance, it seems incredibly generous, but part of me is deeply afraid. Nothing this good comes my way without ripping away something just as good or better. I understood what I was giving up with Nelson and Karie—just my dignity and bit of autonomy. But what am I losing with Huxley? Is it something I can part with?
“On what conditions?” I can barely get the question out. “Do you need me to do anything?”
He frowns in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“There must be something you want in return." I take a deep breath. “I need to know what that something is.”
“Oh. Well, yes, there is one thing.”
Here it comes.“What?”
“I want you not to worry about how much your mother’s care costs.”
That’s…it? I stand there stupidly, blinking.
“When I thought Nelson was giving you twenty-five thousand dollars a month in spending allowance, I disapproved. It seemed ridiculously extravagant, given that he doesn’t make the kind of money to support you in such a way. I assumed you were difficult—greedy, even—and demanded the money from him. I had no idea he was using your mother’s life to control you.” He lets out a heavy, impatient sigh. “Jesus, he let his entire family push you around. But you’re my wife now. Of all the things you could be worried about, the ability to afford your mother’s care shouldn’t even be on the list. I have a reputation for being a dick, but I’m notthatbig of a dick. No money could be spent better than in saving your mother’s life.”
Can it really be true?I blink away tears. Nobody’s ever put their money where their mouth was, showed me my mother’s life was indeed valuable.
“It doesn’t matter if we fight, or you piss me off or…whatever. This trust will guarantee that your mother is always taken care of. It’s out of my control, and legally irrevocable.”
I fan my tear-heated face, then dab at my eyes to prevent my eyeliner from smearing. “I don’t even know what to say.” My voice is shaky with a suppressed sob. The heavy burden on my shoulders is gone, and I didn’t realize until now how difficult the struggle to save my mom’s life was for me. I did it because I love her, but that doesn’t mean it was easy.
A buoyant sensation fills me, and I cry-laugh, looking at Huxley’s handsome face through the tears. “I’m… Oh my God.Thank you.” I hug him. “I don’t even know what to say otherthan that, and that feels inadequate to express how much this means to me.”
“It’s nothing.” He hugs me back, placing warm arms around me. “A small wedding gift.”
“Not small.” I shake my head. “It’s huge. Life changing. Lifesaving. I seriously don’t know how to thank you.”
A corner of his mouth quirks up in a smile, but there’s a hint of discomfiture. Is he embarrassed by my praise? “Money should be spent well.” He kisses the tears at the edges of my eyes. “Your mother’s life is worth it.”
All the unease and unhappiness of the last three weeks melt away. We didn’t get off on the right foot, and we seem to communicate badly at times and say petty things. But when it really counts, he shows he cares.
What does it matter that the wedding decoration and color scheme are more suited for a funeral than a wedding?My husband just made sure Mom will be okay.Genuine hope for the future starts to bloom in my fluttering heart.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Huxley
Grace seems bright and carefree as we have another dance and mingle with the guests. The responsibility and financial burden of the hospital bills must’ve been suffocating, even though she never let on. She shouldered it with love and hope for her mother’s full recovery. Although I swore my wife wouldn’t get a penny from me, setting up the trust feels right. Who should she turn to if not her husband? Adam? Ha! I feel satisfaction at being her provider, giving her what that loser can’t.
He acted like the wedding was killing him. I have no patience or sympathy for a man who has no balls to go after what he wants. He left without saying anything to Grace, his shoulders slumped. Still, what could he complain about? He got to drown his grief in some of the most expensive top-shelf liquor around.
We head home, leaving the staff to take care of the cleanup. No honeymoon has been planned, since I wasn’t in the mood before and Grace never asked. But perhaps we can do something. Hit Florence or Japan. Aunt Akiko offered to recommend some of the most beautiful places in Japan, ones most foreigners don’t know about. “So romantic, too! You’ll love it. Even though you met your wife in an arranged marriage, with proper effort, you can have a good life together. People still do those in Japan and live very happily. And lots of people in history didn’t even get to meet their spouses before marriage.”
She probably added the last part to show that I did better than those people. At least I got to see my bride before the actual wedding. Still, the sentiment is sweet, and I too hope that my marriage isn’t a complete disaster. My home is my sanctuary, and should be without drama or emotional upheaval. I have enough of that at work, dealing with difficult and demanding clients.
“Is this the car you drove when we first met? On that rainy day?” Grace asks, touching the seat with her hand. If the silk and train around her were traditional white, she’d look like a cream puff.
My cream puff.
“Yes.” Because I’m feeling just a bit sentimental and mellow, I add, “I like this car. Even if I didn’t, I couldn’t get rid of the vehicle where I did my first good deed.”
She laughs softly. “I doubt that. You can be surprisingly generous.” Her eyes shine as she looks at me.
“It’s nothing,” I say gruffly.
“Maybe to you. Remember—what you call nothing is something that could change everything for someone else. If you hadn’t given me that ride, I don’t know what I would’ve done. If you hadn’t created the trust, I’d be at Nelson and his family’s mercy for…” She shrugs. “I don’t know. A long time.”
