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Now, from the grave, my grandmother wants to make it up to her by putting stipulations on me for marriage to gain access to my inheritance. It’s all fucked up, and I hate them for putting me in this position and for what they did to my parents.
There is so much I could do with that money. My parents could retire. I could secure the land and the facility for the new Everlasting Ink location here in Ashby. Hell, the list goes on and on, but damn, I can’t just marry someone for money. I don’t even like anyone enough to let them in on this and to stay married to them for a full 365 days.
I’m fucked.
Just like my mother was all those years ago. That’s where my anger is coming from.
“What are you going to do?” Forrest asks once Emerson has finished reading the letter.
“What can I do? I’m not dating anyone. I won’t marry a complete stranger just to gain access to the money, no matter how many people’s lives I can make better with it.”
“Legend, bro, that’s five million dollars. That’s a lot of thousands and more than any of us will make in our lifetimes,” Maddox says.
“I know, but fuck. I can’t just walk up to some woman and say hey, let’s get married for a year, and I’ll give you a million dollars for your trouble. That has complicated and disaster written all over it.”
“There has to be someone,” Lachlan adds. “Did you go through your phone?”
“No.” I grind out the word. “I didn’t go through my phone. Do you hear yourselves? It’s wrong. Right? Tell me I’m not alone in this.” I scan the room, making eye contact with everyone. My eyes land on Monroe, who has been quiet, other than her hand that still sits softly on my back. My eyes land on Forrest. “Right?”
He shrugs. “It’s a lot of money, Legend. I know the shop does well, and we’re all financially stable, but this—it’s fuck-you money.”
“What?” I huff out a laugh.
“Fuck-you money. You know, you don’t give a fuck what it costs because you have money to throw away.”
“Money changes people.”
Lachlan shakes his head. “Not you. You’re solid. Good head on your shoulders and all that jazz.”
I huff out a laugh. “It would have to be someone I trust, and that’s the people in this room and my parents.”
My words have all eyes going to Monroe. I turn to look at her as well. She’s been silent through all of this. Her electric-blue eyes meet mine, and there’s something there, something swirling that I can’t name.
“What am I, chopped liver?” she asks. Her smile lights up her face.
“I included you in the list of those I trust,” I remind her.
“Yeah, but you didn’t consider me for the position.”
“What position?”
“Your wife.”
Those two words falling from her plump lips stir something inside me. Something other than anger and resentment. “My wife?” I repeat.
She shrugs. “Sure, why not? It’s only a year, right? I’m not dating anyone, and you know you can trust me. You get your millions, and we get divorced.”
“Just like that?”
This time, she nods. “It doesn’t have to be complicated, Legend. I know you don’t want this. You’re against marrying for money, and I get that, but it’s a lot of money. You said it yourself: it could change lives. Besides, if I were in your shoes, you’d do it for me.” She pauses as her eyes bounce around the room. “All of you would.”
“Not me,” Roman speaks up, and we all laugh.
“We know, bud.” Forrest laughs. “You’re married. We get it.”
“It deserves repeating.” Roman grins as he snuggles Emerson closer.
Monroe rolls those big blue eyes of hers, then focuses on me. “It’s not a big deal. If you want to do this to satisfy the terms of that archaic letter, I’m your girl.”
