Page 8 of The Contract Marriage

I take a step back, as though moving closer to Tyler. “Hello, Hugh.”

He lets out a laugh. “Come on, I’ve told you you should continue calling me Daddy.”

Who is he fooling? He quit being Daddy the moment his mistress and their bastard child barged into my home. “I’m almost thirty.” And you’re responsible for my mom’s death.

The overly warm smile doesn’t falter as he shakes Tyler’s hand. “As if that means anything,” he says, rolling his eyes at Tyler to convey my intransigent silliness. “You’ll always be my little girl.”

You mean your meal ticket. If he could continue to get money from the trust without me around, he would’ve gotten rid of me. Or at least Deena and Brielle would have.

Sadly for them, my grandparents were clever when they set up the Whitmore dynasty trust. Hugh only gets to live in the mansion and collect a generous income, but he doesn’t own any of it. Once I get married and have a child, the trust passes everything to me, and he loses the fortune and lifestyle he’s grown accustomed to.

But he can’t afford to harm me or interfere with my inheritance either. If he or anyone on his side dares, the trust automatically cuts him off. Should I die without an heir, the entire trust goes to a charitable foundation. Hugh’s only option is to keep me alive, unmarried and childless forever.

Tyler grins, gazing at Hugh like he’s the best kind of dad. But then, I didn’t pick him for his cognitive brilliance.

I glance around, wondering where Brielle is. There’s no way she would miss this. Not only does she thrive on hurting me, she’s the attack dog that allows Hugh and Deena to appear innocent and harmless.

“Tyler!” Brielle calls out cheerily, entering the dining hall fashionably late. Everything about her screams look at me: giant diamond earrings dangling from her ears, a tight red tube top, the bare toned midriff and a purple micromini skirt that shows off her slim, tanned legs. Her shoes look just like Deena’s, only in a fire engine red. She hugs him, arching to ensure she presses her breasts against his torso.

Tyler flushes and hugs her back just as tightly. Bet he’s really feeling her chest. “Hi, Brielle.”

“I’m hungry,” I say, tired of the performative familial bond. All the players are present, so it’s time to move on to the next phase.

“Of course. What am I thinking? Let’s eat.” Deena gestures at me to take a seat in the third chair from Hugh’s left. Tyler pulls out a chair to Hugh’s immediate left for Brielle, who takes it with a satisfied grin. Only then does Tyler situate himself between the two of us, like some kind of harem king with sisters on either side. Pathetic.

Deena’s smile is so wide, it nearly splits her over-Botoxed face. Whatever. I study the spread. Sparkling water in champagne flutes, each with a tiny cube of ice. This is going to be an…interesting brunch. And very Deena.

Everyone starts eating as truffle deviled eggs and panfried Korean mandus are served.

“Try those Korean dumplings. They’re all the rage now!” Deena says, as though noticing my gaze.

I give her a bland smile. “Thanks. I can see you’ve put a lot of effort and thought into the menu. It’s very you, Deena.”

She falters, unsure if I’m complimenting or disrespecting her, then pastes on a smile. “Of course. I wouldn’t do any less for you and Tyler.” Her eyes are on mine, but the emphasis is on Tyler.

“I can’t wait for the wedding!” Brielle says, serving several mandus for herself and Tyler.

“Neither can I. What the Whitmore fortune needs is a good, considerate steward of its future.” I keep my tone airy and innocent.

Deena doesn’t miss a beat, although her eyes glint with some unholy anticipation. “Exactly!”

“You think you’re ready?” Hugh says finally.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” I keep my voice calm.

“Because you’re just a low-level manager at some boring little wedding company? It’s so pathetic, they couldn’t even plan a decent ceremony for you.” Brielle’s sweet tone belies the barbs.

Tyler doesn’t react. Hugh sips his sparkling water, and Deena watches me with avid interest.

Wedding…? I almost smile. Brielle thinks she’s so clever, but she lacks imagination and can only see what’s obvious. To her, EverAfter can only be a wedding company. It must’ve never occurred to her it can apply to death as well. Shocking, since she caused my mom’s death and then later ran over my dog. Since I was ten, I haven’t been able to see my mom again. I wasn’t even able to say a final goodbye because Hugh and Deena cremated her so hurriedly. “I’m sure at some point, I’ll need their service. It just isn’t the time yet,” I say mildly. “One of these days, even you’ll want to reach out to them about their offerings.”

“Ha! Never.”

Tyler suddenly flinches, as though something bit him, his knuckles going white around his fork. Deena and Brielle exchange glances.

I stifle a laugh. It’s one of Brielle’s classic moves—running her toes along my guy’s leg while he’s sitting next to me. I feign ignorance and sip the sparkling water.

“So. Where’s the honeymoon?” Hugh asks abruptly.