“You’re upset by the news? Is that what’s going on?”
She makes a sound of disgust and shakes her head. “Get out.”
“Ronan Callahan,” I say, holding out my hand. “Your soon-to-be husband.”
“I don’t give a damn to meet you.” She doesn’t take my hand, instead going to turn away from me.
I grab her by the arm before she can and wrench her toward me. She stumbles in her heels, her curvy body brushing up against mine.
We’re suddenly up close, staring into each other’s eyes like lovers.
This is fun. This is like a new kind of game. Just how far can I push my bride when she clearly hates me?
“You should,” I say smugly. “We’re going to be spending a long time together. The rest of our lives, princess.”
“Let go of me,” she warns.
“Though I’ve gotta admit.” I pause long enough to let my gaze drop, openly appraising her body. “I’m relieved you’re very easy on the eyes. This would’ve been a lot harder if you weren’t.”
She yanks her arm from my grip as I laugh. “I said don’t touch me!”
“I’ll be doing a lot more than that soon. But don’t worry. Promise to treat you right.”
“You can go fuck yourself, Callahan,” she growls, jaw tightening. Fire flashes in her eyes, making them look more golden brown than usual. “It doesn’t matter. I don’t agree to this. I’ll always hate you for that alone.”
“You might be right, princess—it doesn’t matter, does it?” I reach into my pocket and withdraw the engagement ring that’s an heirloom in my family and has been passed down for my future wife to wear. I grab her hand and push the ring onto her slender ring finger before she can even think to pull away. “Either way, as my wife, you belong to me. And… look at that. The ring fits perfectly. Must be a sign.”
Then I walk out, leaving her standing there, furious and beautiful.
FOUR
Simone
“I can’t believeyour dad’s selling you off like some cow.”
Chantal shakes her head in disbelief, flicking on the track lighting to the different art displays. Right now, she’s stopped in front of a surrealist portrait clearly inspired by the likes of Dalí.
I’m at her side, sipping from my iced green tea matcha like it’s my last meal. It’s the reason I’ve worn all black today—every day has started feeling like a funeral since I found out I’ll be a married woman within the week.
“It is like I’m a cow, isn’t it?” I sigh. “Some family cow being put to pasture.”
Chantal turns to me, a mischievous glint in her eye. “You could always elope with Heath. He’d be down for that.”
I scoff. “Are you kidding? Heath would never defy Dad. He’s really into me, but he’s also lowkey a coward. You know he is. He’d back down in five minutes.” I pause, taking another sip from my matcha. “Plus, is getting married to Heath Kaufman any better than Ronan Callahan?”
Chantal raises a brow. “You think Heath’s on the same level as Callahan?”
“Okay, Heath’s better onpaper. He’s more respectable and obviously has better character. But a marriage to him would feel just as suffocating.” I stare at the paintings in frontof us, each one featuring things like melting clocks and distorted figures. “The truth is, I don’t even know if I ever wanted to get married.”
“Sim, really?” She rolls her eyes. “More like you don’t think anyone out there is good enough.”
She’s sort of right. I’ve seen the kind of men out there, and realistically, most of them just don’t measure up.
Most men can’t even measure up to the man my father is—a devoted and loving husband and family man. Dad has always loved Mom and treated her like gold.
And unfortunately I’ve seen what’s out in the real world, and it’s disappointing. It’s a selection of losers, cheaters, abusers, and men with a host of other issues like drug problems and gambling addictions.
Criminalslike Ronan Callahan and his ilk.
