Page 83 of The Contract Marriage

“Well, we can’t forget the gifts!” Rhys announces to change the topic.

“Most definitely not,” Max says.

“I’ll go first,” Silas says with a grin. He heads into the kitchen and opens one of the cabinets, then returns with a jar. “Behold! Homemade raspberry jam. Happy birthday, Olivia. It’s nice to welcome another sister into the family.”

Olivia smiles. “Thank you.”

My other brothers look at me with overt envy. I grin smugly. Yeah, today is continuing the best kind of tradition from last night.

Finn is frowning, and it’s obvious what he’s thinking: What about me?

Grinning, I mouth, Sucks to be you. I’m going to ask Frederich to make us some English muffins. They’ll go well with the jam.

Silas’s eyes slide toward me, then shift to my wife. “By the way, Olivia?”

“Hmm?”

“I made that last night for you. Don’t let Liam have any, no matter how much he begs.”

Chapter Thirty-Five

Olivia

Despite what Silas made me promise, I let Liam have some of the jam.

“I knew you loved me,” he says over breakfast, slathering it on an English muffin Frederich baked.

I laugh. “Does Silas always do this?”

“What, makes jam for birthdays? No. Sometimes the rest of us talk about throwing rocks at his windows, just to annoy him, so he’ll make some jam.”

I shake my head. “He might just kick your asses instead.”

“All of us?” He chews thoughtfully. “That’d take a while. But when he’s upset, he makes jam.”

I caught some glances between Liam and his brothers during the brunch. Not sure exactly what they meant, but it looks like I passed the first round.

That’s enough for now.

They’ve included me and acted like I was a real part of the family, which made Liam happy. And that’s more than I could ask for. I want Liam to be satisfied with our marriage while it lasts—

A sudden pang stops me. Our time is so limited, and he deserves a wonderful woman by his side to the end, not someone as calculating and difficult as me.

As I promised him last week, I text Simon to quit picking me up and start driving myself to work. He waits for me in the hallway in front of my office.

“Good morning, Olivia.”

“Good morning,” I say, opening the door before he can get it for me.

“That’s new.”

I look down. The pavé ring glitters under the fluorescent light. I smile. “Yeah. A birthday gift from Liam.”

Simon inhales sharply. “Looks very nice.”

“Mm-hmm.” I frown. “What’s wrong with your voice? Are you coming down with something?”

“No. Just got something stuck—” He clears his throat.