Page 5 of The Contract Marriage

“I know I am. But you? You apparently don’t love me enough to just give a little. Your pride matters more.”

“Stop it, Tyler. You’re really hurting her. Look, she’s about to cry.” Brielle lays a hand over his chest. “It’s fine, really.” She purposely steps on the drafts, grinding her heels into the sheets until they tear. “Oh, sorry. Didn’t see those. Do you want me to pick them up?” Her defiant eyes are on mine.

Tyler pulls her into his arms, then snatches the fob off the table. “Forget it. Let’s go. She can still see what’s on the paper. Let me buy you something nice for a late lunch. And to make up for her bitchiness.”

The second the door closes, Liam explodes to his feet and spins around to face me. “What the hell? Why didn’t you fight back? Why do you even bother with those two?”

I study his expression. Fury blazes in his eyes, tension tightening his jaw. He looks more upset than me over the blatant disrespect and abuse.

If only I could be certain my plan would leave him unscathed… I have a feeling he wouldn’t betray me, at least not for Brielle anyway. But someone as sincere as Liam deserves better than being dragged into an old family feud he doesn’t understand.

At the same time, I’ll never find peace as long as Hugh and his mistress live in my mother’s mansion and continue using her money to fund their lavish lifestyle. I take a moment to gather myself. “Because some love can’t just be let go. And not all pain heals with time.”

His expression crumbles a little, and the fight in him deflates. “You weren’t so philosophical in college.”

I smile, hoping to brighten the mood. “Hard to be philosophical in the middle of doing differential equations.” I gesture for him to sit beside me again. “We should finalize this. Just go ahead with what we discussed.” I scribble some numbers. “Here’s the ring size.”

He frowns. “That’s too big for you.”

I freeze. “How do you know?”

“Are you kidding? It’s my job to know.” He drops his eyes to my finger, where Tyler’s perfunctory ring lies. “Your fingers are slimmer.”

“Well, I might gain some weight before the wedding.”

Liam frowns.

“I’m not starving myself for a wedding. It’s an event to celebrate, not suffer for.” I smile with secret satisfaction.

His Adam’s apple bobs, and he nods slowly. “Right. Something to celebrate. A big milestone.”

“Exactly.”

Once the decisions are made, the rest is easy. Just some contracts and payment terms. I put everything on Hugh Desmond’s account. After all, it’s his job as my father to pay for my wedding. He wouldn’t want the trustee to think he’s being a stingy asshole with his daughter.

An hour’s drive later, I’m at my penthouse. The second I step in, the magnificent view of Santa Monica Bay and the Pacific greets me from the other side of the floor-to-ceiling window.

“Home, sweet home,” I murmur. But this is more than a home—it’s a sanctuary. A place to be safe and let my guard down. I sigh as the neutral earth and sage tones calm my nerves.

I take off my heels, wriggling my toes on the cool wood floor, and grab a chilled bottle of Dom from the wine cellar. After pouring a glass, I stand before the giant portrait on the wall facing the ocean. It’s the only thing I’ve hung on this particular wall, painted a dusty mauve. The shade reminded me of Mom’s favorite roses when I first saw it in the store.

In the photo, Mom and I stand in front of the central fountain of the main Whitmore mansion, where she, and then I, grew up. She’s in a royal blue dress, and I’m in a white lacy one that makes me look like a little princess, and we’re smiling at the camera. Pochi—the black mixed-breed puppy we rescued together when I was ten—sits between us, her eyes bright.

It was the happiest and most brilliant moment in my life. My eyes suddenly burn with tears…and this time they’re genuine.

Will I ever be that happy again? The question swirls in my head, then reaches into my chest and clenches my heart until it hurts.

My perfect happiness crashed and burned when Hugh’s mistress and their daughter burst into our lives. They killed my mother, and later my dog. Moved into Mom’s mansion and started to spend Mom’s money. Nothing’s ever been the same. And I’ll never forgive those who took my family from me.

I raise my glass. “To justice.”

Chapter Three

Olivia

Tyler gives me the cold shoulder for nearly four weeks. It’s his immature way of making his displeasure known over my refusal to apologize to Brielle. He doesn’t seem to realize that adults behave differently.

But at least it gave me a month of peace and quiet. The point is to get married, not be all lovey-dovey. I’m busy with my own life and business, and don’t have time to coddle his bruised ego. Plus, I’m sure Brielle is doing a great job of that. For all I know they’ve already been sleeping together, although maybe they take breaks on the weekends. He’s busy living it up in Vegas on Saturdays, according to photos on his Instagram. Nothing overt, but just enough to clue me in that he’s been gambling.