“Quimhasse,” I answered, stepping closer until his hand could find a now familiar spot on my stomach. I returned the gesture. “Please, forgive me for this…” I looked over my shoulder, at a loss for words. “Disagreement.”
He shook his head. “It is not you who are a bother. I apologize for pulling you both out of your home for such a…displeasantreason.”
“Now, now, Khegon,” Maxwell said from his spot near my parents. “I’m not more happy about this than you, but you have to understand that this situation needs to be settled as quickly as possible.”
Khegon’s smile was forced. Too tight. It didn’t suit him. “We will.” Then, low enough for only my ears. “Do not worry about a thing, Tammy.”
I could only nod as I retreated a few steps until my back found the familiar front of Filbur. My partner. Myhusband.
It’ll all be alright. He’s here with me.
“Tamara, why did you lie to Mr Donovan when he recruited you?” Maxwell asked and my jaw almost hit the floor.
“I didn’t.”
He arched a brow. “You most certainly did. Onlyunmarriedwomen are eligible for the Zodiac Repopulation Program. You clearly forgot to mention that you were, in fact, married.”
My knees buckled.
Married?
No. No, I fuckingwasn’t.
My wide eyes met Khegon’s. He was frowning at Maxwell, clearly confused. Could he see the lie? Or, maybe Maxwell was the one that had been lied too, and so,hewasn’t actually lying but telling something that he’d heard.
Fuck.
No. No, no, no.
“I’monlymarried to Filbur,” I said, slowly. “And I have never been marriedbefore.”
“You lyingwhore,” Jake spat, taking a menacing step forward before being held back by his mother. “You signed a contract. You belong tome!”
I blinked, taken aback by the swirling rage on his face. What the hell was going on?
“I haven’t signed anything of the sort. The only thing Ididsign was a paper stating what I was and wasn’t allowed to use while I was living with youbeforethe marriage was to happen.”
Khegon nodded, satisfied by my honesty.
“Liar!” he screamed again, plunging a hand in his pocket to retrieve a folded document. “Here! This one is a contract signed by your parents saying that you were to marry me in exchange for them to acquire one of our houses.Thisis the document they signed when they agreed to our terms, and—”
“What Ihear,” Khegon cut in sharply, “isherparents signing on her behalf for things she did not agree to.” His tone was too sharp to leave room for negotiations. He turned to Maxwell, waving dismissively. “This does not mean Tamara was the tiny man’s spouse.”
Maxwell looked sorry but took a step forward. “I believe they haveanothercontract. One of marriage. They…showedit to me back at the station. This is the reason we came here.”
Jake’s parents exchanged a glance. Mine were increasingly interested in their own feet.
My ex’s mother cleared her throat, pulling a neatly folded piece of paper out of her elegant beige jacket.
Beige.
I’d hoped I’d never see this damn color ever again.
She handed it to Khegon, bowing at the waist. He stared at her, confused, but still picked what she offered between careful fingers.
“What do you want me to do with this?” he asked, unfolding it carefully.
Maxwell came forward. “Apologies, Khegon. Give it to me and I will translate.”
