Page 79 of Temporary Vows

“Elodie Harper.”

At first, his face brightens, but he catches himself, and the smile falls off his face the moment recognition lands.

He stiffens, his shoulders tauter than before. “Dorian.” His voice drops as he says my name, every syllable dragging with the heaviness of his disapproval. “Please don’t tell me you mean Elodie Harper, as in Cole Harper’s daughter. Jack’s sister.”

“Yes. That is exactly who I mean.”

Dad stares back at me as if he truly believes I’ve lost my mind. “No. Not her. Find someone else.”

Behold, I was right. We’re definitely going to fight over this. “No, I will not find someone else,Dad. I’m marrying her.”

“I’m sure Elodie is a nice girl, but you need to find someone else.”

“I said no.” I keep my voice as firm as he does his. “You never said you had to approve of who I choose, only that I had to choose. Now I have chosen.”

He’s about to argue but stops himself. He knows I’m right.

A deep scowl reddens his cheeks. “There’s always something with you, isn’t there?”

“No, Dad. Only you think that.”

“I assure you it’s not just me.” His nostrils flare, and he squares his shoulders.

“Well, it seems you’re the only opinion that matters to me.” I half mean that, and he knows it.

“Why her, Dorian? You could have anyone else. Your brothers held interviews. Levi apparently has a list. Why her?”

“Why not her?”

He gives me a deadpan stare, and I can’t even blame him.

Nearly a decade ago, the Harper name would have been enough to gain the seal of approval from a man like my father. When their business went under, it caused a big stir, and many people in our circle wondered why the Vales didn’t help.

Cole Harper was on his death bed, and his son, Jack, was set to take over, but the business died the same day Cole took his last breath.

People who heard that I caught Jack and Catherine together automatically assumed that was the reason my family didn’t help. And I let them—all of them, including Elodie—believe that.

It wasn’t the truth. The truth ran deeper, and only a handful of people know. Thanks to me.

My father is one of those people.

“She’s not her family,” I continue.

“I’m aware. But I’m concerned with the possibility of this going all wrong. Marrying into the Harper family will already dig up the past.”

“The past is the past.” And as far as people were concerned, the loss of Harper’s Enterprises was a sad story.

“Nevertheless, it gets people talking in ways you don’t need now. You’re already in the middle of a scandal. Why open the door for another?”

“You’re talking as if something has already happened.”

His frown deepens. “With people like that, something willalwayshappen.” By people he means Jack. And he’s not wrong.

“She’s my choice, Dad. I will make surenothinghappens.”

He goes still, studies me for a beat, and his gaze lingers, like he’s measuring something he’s not going to say out loud. I can tell he’s seen something he wasn’t expecting, and since he knows there’s no way he can enforce any more demands on me, the only thing he can do is take a step back.

“You’re sure about this?” He arches a brow.