Before I can issue my threat, Huxley’s arm wraps around me. “Like she needs money from you people. What’s the point of having a rich husband if she has to grovel for a measly twenty-five grand from a bunch of tight-fisted assholes?”
I pinch his arm surreptitiously, signaling him to stop talking. I already told him why I couldn’t accept his money.
But Huxley doesn’t take back his words.
Nelson and Karie pale. They don’t know that Huxley isn’t fond of me. As far as they’re concerned, not holding those bills over my head is going to free me from their control, and they can’t have that. What if I told everyone the kind of abuse I’ve suffered at their hands? What if I told people that Karie forced me to take the LSAT for Viv?
“There’s no reason to get vulgar overmoney,” Nelson says, as though he couldn’t care less about the stuff. “We’ll continue to pay for her expenses, of course.”
“You will not.Iprovide for my wife.” Huxley’s voice is firm. It brooks no argument.
I can almost believe he means it, even though I know better. His father must’ve taught him acting.
“She’s our daughter!” Karie protests.
I snort softly.Their daughter? Since when?I was an embarrassment to Nelson, and an abomination to Karie. To Mick and Viv, just someone to abuse and take their anger out on. They treated their housekeepers with more decency.
Huxley scoffs openly. “Is she? Before she was Grace Lain, and now Mrs. Huxley Lasker. She was never a Webber. How’s your face feeling, by the way? I heard you had another unfortunate incident involving your car.”
Nelson shakes. He can’t believe Huxley won’t show him even a smidgeon of respect. I’m just stunned that Huxley has defended me. Again.Am I dealing with the nice Huxley today?
“Nobody’s allowed to insult my wife,” my new husband declares. “How you treat her is a reflection on me, so youwilltreat her with respect and dignity. Understood?”
If Huxley and I didn’t have an unpleasant history, I’d probably be overcome with joy. But I know too well how unpredictable his moods can be. It’d be foolish to assign too much significance to his behavior right now.
Time to set things straight so I don’t end up being at Huxley’s mercy over Mom’s bills… “Huxley, they’ve been paying all this time, so if they want to continue—”
Nelson and Karie nod eagerly, but Huxley’s cool voice cuts me off. “Don’t cover for them, sweetheart. They won’t be a part of your life in any way.”
“You have no right to separate a family,” Nelson says shakily.
“In case you missed it,I’mher family now. And I’ve set up a medical trust fund for my wife.”
I stare at Huxley.A trust fund?Since when did I get this fund from him? Didn’t he make me sign a prenup so I wouldn’t even have lunch money if I didn’t work?
He continues, enunciating clearly: “She doesn’t need you anymore.”
I reel at the abrupt announcement. I try to grasp what it means. Is Huxley promising to pay for my mom’s care until she opens her eyes? What about the rehab she’ll probably need once she wakes up? It feels both surreal and scary to imagine that I may never have to beg from Nelson and Karie again because control is shifting to my husband.
Viv glares at me, her eyes flashing with jealousy. She’s so simple and transparent. She’s thinking about all the shopping she could’ve done if she’d married Huxley and gotten a hold of a trust fund. Frustration brings a fresh wave of tears to her eyes.
I tug at Huxley’s hand.
He looks down at my smaller and slimmer fingers around his, his brow furrowed.
I lick my dry lips. “Can I talk to you for a second?”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Grace
I pull Huxley to the room set aside for me to change and do my makeup and hair. I shut the door and lock it behind us. “What did you mean by a trust?” My voice shakes. Actually, my whole body is trembling as I wait for his response.
“Exactly what I said. I had Bryce set it up with my accountant. It’ll automatically pay your mother’s bills. Twenty-five thousand to Johns Hopkins each month. The payments will continue until they become unnecessary.”
“But what about when she wakes up and needs therapy at some place other than Johns Hopkins?”
“Also covered by the trust. Like I said, it’s forallyour mother’s medical care.”
