Page 112 of The Contract Marriage

Brielle stands before me in a bright red dress, tight enough to be vulgar, despite the excellent cut of the design. But then there aren’t any ugly Armani dresses, just ugly people.

“Hello, Brielle. I see you’re out enjoying yourself. How’s the new Ferrari?” I tick my fingers one by one. “You have about eight months left to enjoy it.”

Her smile grows stiff. “Don’t worry. I’m getting a lot of fun out of it. Just like I did with Jake.”

I keep my expression mild. I thought I loved Jake eight years ago, and even cried a little when he left, but what I felt for him back then can’t compare to what’s in my heart for Liam. Losing Jake was akin to a cut on the finger. Inconvenient and painful, but quickly healed. Losing Liam is like having my guts pulled out—unbearably agonizing and difficult to recover from.

“And Tyler,” she adds with a more natural-looking grin this time. “Why all alone today, though? Isn’t your husband accompanying you?”

“He’s busy working. Unlike some people, we actually make ourselves productive and contribute to society.”

“Funny. But you know what…?” She makes a show of looking around. “I don’t think he’s here. I didn’t see him anywhere inside the store. I even asked to see him to arrange a private commission but—sadly—he seems to be unavailable.” She watches my reaction.

I smirk. She’s never getting the satisfaction. “He’ll never be available to you.”

Her eyes narrow slightly. “He isn’t to you, either, is he? Was he upset when you couldn’t explain why you were all over your assistant during that recent lunch? Or why you came out of that hotel looking disheveled with Simon smoothing your hair last Christmas? That wet spot on your dress—was it his semen? Like that infamous blue dress?” Her eyes shine.

The Christmas party for Luminary & Co. Everyone got a little too rowdy, and people started to dance, excited about the product lines and fat bonuses. Cindy from accounting lost her balance and spilled a bit of eggnog on my dress, and the heel on my shoe broke, so Simon helped me to my car. But of course Brielle would’ve twisted it into something filthy.

“You little bitch,” I grit out between clenched teeth before I can catch myself.

She laughs. “What? I didn’t do anything but show him what you’ve been up to. Not my fault you were caught in those compromising photos and videos.”

“Did you send them to Liam?” Is that another reason he’s been weird since Thursday?

“Oh, I did better. I showed them to him myself. He couldn’t take his eyes off them. His onesie shopping was probably ruined. But…” She shrugs with faux innocence, even as her eyes glint with undisguised malice. “I didn’t mean to. You know that, Olivia. I never mean to hurt anybody.”

“That’s right. You never mean to. It just happens.” I shoot her a cold look, then lower my voice and take a step closer until I can almost count her lashes. “But guess what, Brielle?”

“What?” she says, her voice slightly unsteady.

“When I do something, I do mean to. I mean to take over the trust. I mean to kick all three of you parasites off it. I mean to make your life worse than death. And I don’t care that you know that I mean to do all those things to you—and more. Be sure to enjoy these next few months. They’re all you have left before you start experiencing all the things I mean for you.”

She turns ghostly white.

I start climbing into the car, then pause and look at her over my shoulder. “By the way, Tyler really wants that honeymoon on Laucala Island.”

Chapter Forty-Six

Olivia

Since I promised not to bother Liam at his house at Point Dume, I text and call instead, but all of them go ignored. I try reaching out to Frederich next, but he doesn’t have much to say.

–Frederich: I’m afraid I can’t discuss his private matters. But he’s alive if that’s what you’re asking. He isn’t at his place, though.

I can hear the mild rebuke in his text. He isn’t happy that Liam is suffering. But I don’t blame him. I wouldn’t either if I were in his place.

I tap on the dining table. What are my options?

Liam isn’t even at his place, and who knows when he’ll move back? He isn’t seeing me at his company either. That leaves me with…what?

Dr. Silverman!

I gave Liam the card inviting him to hear the baby’s first heartbeat. He walked out on me that evening, but he left with the card clenched in his hand. And he knows Dr. Silverman’s my OB-GYN.

He’ll come. He has to come. He might be disappointed and decide not to love me anymore, but he loves this baby more than anything in the world. He’d never miss a chance to experience something as special as hearing the baby’s heart.

My heart full of optimism, I carefully pick out a pretty white dress with lace trim and put on soft makeup, the kind I used to wear at Stanford. I don’t bother with any jewelry except for the rings from him. It might seem manipulative, but I want to remind him of the feelings he used to have. It’ll be easier to convince him he’s important to me.