Page 25 of Angel

My mother shook her head and sighed.

‘Poor Roxy seemed devastated at the altar.’

‘Wouldn’t you be if your own father blackmailed your daughter’s ex to marry you for a cool million to protect his reputation?’ Marnie muttered, crossing her arms.

I had zero capacity to think about my new wife’s feelings, let alone my own, as my brain hovered on the precipice of mental collapse.

Yet, during our brief wedding dance, when I pulled her to me for the first time, my heart kicked with an unexpected lurch.

I’d always considered Roxy to be beautiful in her own way, with her freckles, her expressive hazel eyes, and that pixie cut that made her appear almost elfin.

Her lips were lush, and she had a stunning smile.

Her body had curves in all the right places, and if I hadn’t been in love with Evangeline in the past, I might have tried my luck with her.

I also liked her energy; she always maintained a quiet grace, especially today.

‘Roxy never asked to be collateral damage in the wake of Evangeline’s mess,’ I growled. ‘We all need to be kind to her.’

I made a silent oath to myself right then and there: to shield her from the storm and my own bitterness.

‘On that note, are we taking the money?’ Clair asked.

My dad’s mouth twisted.

‘It’s tainted; I won’t touch it with a ten-foot pole.’

That was one of the reasons why I loved and respected this man; his integrity knew no bounds.

‘I’m with Dad; I’m not willing to take the cash,’ I rasped. ‘It’ll come with strings, or given Reese’s true rep, it’ll be dirty as hell. However, if he ever makes good on it, which I doubt, and my lawyers give it a green light, I’ll give the one mill to you and Mum for your nest egg.’

‘You can’t -,’ my father protested.

‘I don’t need it; put some of it towards paying off Marnie and Clair’s university fees too.’

My sisters clapped in glee, then sobered up when I arched an eyebrow at them.

‘Really?’

‘Sorry bro,’ they said. ‘Nothing to cheer about.’

‘Damn straight,’ I growled.

We exchanged a few more words before I signaled one of the hotel’s attendants to summon a private town car for my family’s departure.

Walking them to the venue’s entrance, I gathered my loved ones in a final embrace under the stone portico.

‘I’ll be fine,’ I promised, kissing Mum’s forehead. ‘I’ll call you when we touch down in Italy.’

Dad gave me a long hug.

‘Stay strong son and be kind to Roxy, she’s as lost in this mess as you are.’

I jerked my chin in acknowledgment.

‘I’ll do my best, pops. Love you.’

He climbed into the waiting vehicle along with the rest of my family.