“You stupid— Argh! What the fuck were you thinking running away from the wedding? Do you know what kind of trouble you’ve caused?You fucked me over!” Aaron screams, spittle flying everywhere.
He doesn’t seem to be exaggerating his predicament. He sports circles so dark, they look like black eyes. His cheeks are sunken. There are lines on his forehead that weren’t there before, and no razor has touched his face in days.
His wrinkled suit is the same as the one from the wedding, just dingier—he probably hasn’t changed, either.
I stare in shock, registering only half his screaming. It isn’t like him to overlook grooming. Aaron cares way too much about his appearance.
“How did you find me?”I ask.
He opens his mouth, then shuts it. Probably did something shady and won’t admit to it. “You can’t hide from me. I’m much smarter and more resourceful.”
Of course.“I told your loan shark I’d pay.” I say the words slowly, trying to hide my impatience and irritation and get through to him.
He spins toward me, his fists tight and shaking. “Don’t lie to me!” he screams. “They came for me at the house just this morning, while Mom was at a temple to pray.” His red-rimmed eyes glare at me. “I was left alone to fend for myself! It was sounfair.”
I blink. His nostrils flare. He breathes hard. Not a hint of relief that Sherry was spared the scene. Just fury because he undoubtedly had to grovel to avoid getting his knees broken or something.
What’s happened to him since college?I don’t recognize my adoptive brother anymore. Although Aaron was never nice to me, he was always a good son. He strove to meet his father’s lofty expectations and humor his mother to keep her depression and emotional outbursts at bay.
The Aaron I knew would never have been this self-centered. What little respect I had for him dies.
“It’s your debt,” I remind him impassively. “Sherry has nothing to do with it.”
“So? She’s my mom. She has some money set aside that she could use to help me out.” He sounds betrayed. “I just found out.”
My shoulders sag with relief. She’ll be able to maintain a decent lifestyle. The woman’s powerless and wouldn’t know what to do if she had to earn her own money. “Well, good. But it’s her money, not yours.”
“I’m her son! I deserve that money!”
“She deserves to live out the rest of her life in dignity, Aaron!”
His face reddens with guilt and embarrassment, but his eyes glint with resentment. He hates it when I act like a daughter to his mother because I’m “trying to replace Finley in Sherry’s heart.” He conveniently forgets that it was his father who brought me in to do just that.
“Why are you so upset, anyway?” I keep my tone calm to avoid escalation. “I was the one marrying a monster, remember?”
He glares at me. “Jude’s no monster.”
“If you like him so much,youmarry him.”
“Shut up, dumbass!” Aaron points a finger in my face. “You’re going to go to him, get on your knees and beg for his forgiveness. He was nice and sentimental enough to agree to marry you because of shared memories. But now, he’ll probably just keep you as a mistress or something.” He shakes his head, muttering something about pearls and swine.
“I’ll do no such thing.”
“Yes, you will.” He grips my arm and starts pulling me toward the door.
I dig my heels in. “Stop it! What’s wrong with you?”
“You asking me what’s wrong? You fucked up the wedding and you now want me dead! Jesus, my life is worth more than two million! Jude’s being gracious by offering to pay that much for your body. It isn’t like you’re a virgin.”
“Oh my God! Medieval much?”
“Shut up. You owe it to my dad for giving you a home!” He tightens his hold and yanks me to the door.
“No!” I try to pull away, but he’s much too strong. I scratch his hand hard enough to leave red marks, but he’s beyond caring.
“We can do it the easy way or the hard way,” he grinds out. “Your choice.”
“What the hell kind of choice is that?” I shoot back, fury and helplessness overpowering my senses.
