She snorts. “I don’t believe in love anymore. Marriage is a transaction. And this one was a very clear one.”
I tilt my head, watching my very romantic sister speaking pragmatically. A lot has changed, that’s for sure.
“What is Ezra getting out of it?”
She walks to the window and peeks outside. “Dad’s shares so he can get the voting power back or something. I guess their dad brought in the board when he retired because he didn’t trust his eldest son to keep it afloat.”
Oh, that might suck. This might be one of the reasons Ezra is the way he is. Cold, calculated, calloused. Daddy issues can do that to anyone.
“So, he really needs this marriage,” I think aloud.
“He needs the dowry that comes with it. That’d be a win-win. Dad executes his lifelong dream and marries his daughters into even more money, and King gets control of his company back. Somewhat.”
“Huh.”
Bea’s turn to narrow her eyes and stare at my face, looking for answers. “Why did you agree to marry him so easily? Isn’t that why you ran away in the first place?”
“Blackmail,” I sigh, telling one part of the truth.
“What?” Her brows jump to her tan hairline.
“He said he’ll put me in jail if I don’t marry him.”
Now her brows draw together in confusion. “Why not marry me then?”
I chew the inside of my cheeks, not knowing what to say. Deep down, I wish the answer would be that he got so connected to me, that he simply didn’t want to have another woman by his side. But in reality, I don’t think he’s that type of person. In reality, he’s more like my father than I’d like to admit.
When everyone is sure I am the intended bride, I’m graciously moved into a more spacious room. A bungalow to be precise, sitting over the water. It has an adjoined room and a shared balcony. I can only suspect it’s my groom’s because this bungalow looks to be the largest one. And those are saved as ‘honeymoon suites.’
Needless to say, I’m not complaining about the change, considering the old room didn’t even have a decently working air conditioner. This suite is like something you’d expect from a five-star resort. Something I forgot existed.
While I’m admiring the ocean view from the window, a knock comes at the door. I’m not surprised to find my father when I open the door. He pushes past me without waiting for an invite.
“The wedding is tomorrow morning. Your mother secured the official. Be ready.”
He literally makes a three-sixty halfway through the room and walks out, leaving me standing with an open mouth and blinking. Shit just got too real, too fast.
29
Ezra
“Are you sure about this?” Noah asks me for the millionth time in the past twelve hours. “I don’t give a fuck about the company and even less about our father’s approval. You shouldn’t either.”
“Leave it, Noah. I’m going through with it.”
He comes to fix my tie like I’m twelve. Apparently, it’s very easy to get a custom-made suit overnight if you’re very determined to do so. And Mrs. Wrong was very determined. She secured an official for the ceremony in less than an hour. On a weekend. After ten p.m. The decision about setting the wedding day was done yesterday at eight in the evening. By midnight, we had everything set up.
“If I didn’t know you any better—which I do, of course,” he says with a smug smile, “I’d say you actuallywantto go through with this marriage.”
I snort, pushing his hands away. “Right. I’ve never wantedto get married. Much less to someone like her,” I say, suddenly hating myself for no obvious reason. I’ve said and done worse things. So why does the idea of putting this information out there not sit right?
“Someone you like, you mean?” my annoying brother asks with a quirked brow I’d like to punch.
“No,” I grit out. “Someone so out of my world.”
“But she isn’t, is she?” Noah asks carefully. And I know what he’s doing. We both do. “She’s from your world.”
“Is she?” I question his sanity. “She detests everything I work for.”
