"Is this how you usually make decisions? By dragging people into rooms they don’t want to be in?”
The man sitting opposite me didn't turn upward. He was too caught up with whirling the bourbon in his glass, his long fingers wrapped firmly around maybe it was the main thing tying him to the occasion.
"I didn't request this anything else than you," he said at last, his voice low and cut.
I gripped my clenched hands under the cleaned oak table, compelling myself to keep my appearance nonpartisan.
The pressure all around was choking, thick with implicit feelings of disdain and assumptions.
The confidential room in the upscale lodging was faintly lit, the main sound coming from the weak murmur of a crystal fixture above.
Mike Rowling was nothing similar to what I'd anticipated. He was sharp-highlighted, his dim hair cleared back with the accuracy of somebody who couldn't stand remaining details.
His custom-fitted suit shouted riches and authority, however, his stance was easygoing, practically exhausted, as though he were attempting to minimize the ridiculousness of the circumstance.
"You're peaceful," he commented, at last gathering my look. His eyes were penetrating, a frightening shade of dark that appeared to see straight through me. "I anticipated more opposition."
I fixed my back. "Why bother? Dislike I have a decision, isn't that right?"
His lips twisted into something looking like a sneer, yet it didn't arrive at his eyes. "Neither do I."
The words lingered palpably, heavier than they ought to have been. I needed to loathe him, to generalize him with the likes of Kaila and Jemma and every other person who appeared not entirely set in stone to control my life, yet there was something in his tone — a harshness that reflected my own — that provided me the opportunity to stop and think.
"So," I said, collapsing my arms across my chest, "for what reason would you say you are doing this? How might this benefit you?"
He reclined in his seat, one arm hung nonchalantly over the side as he respected me with a cool separation. "That is nothing you should be worrying about."
"It is assuming I'm going to be your significant other," I shot back. The word tasted harsh on my tongue, similar to something unfamiliar and unwanted.
His appearance solidified. "This is certainly not a genuine marriage, Miss Holloway. We should not imagine it at any point will be."
The words stung, even though I'd anticipated them. "Why proceed with it?"
He delayed, his jaw fixing. Briefly, I figured he could reply, however, at that point he shook his head and took a taste of his beverage. "I don't owe you a clarification."
I inclined forward, declining to allow him to dismiss me. "You probably won't owe me a clarification, however assuming we will be trapped in this... game plan, I assume I merit some trustworthiness."
Mike put his glass down with a tranquil ring, his eyes restricted. "You need genuineness? Fine. I'm doing this since it benefits me. Very much as you're doing it since it benefits you. We should not imagine both of us have respectable goals here."
I opened my mouth to contend, yet the words passed on in my throat. He wasn't altogether off-base. However much I detested wedding him, I loathed the prospect of losing Mia considerably more.
"Presently it's my move," he said, his voice slicing through my viewpoints. "For what reason would you say you are consenting to this? How might this benefit you?"
I faltered, my brain dashing for a response that wouldn't make me sound as frantic as I felt. "We should simply say I have my reasons."
He raised an eyebrow, obviously disinterested. "Dubious. Helpful."
I frowned at him, my dissatisfaction rising to the surface. "I don't owe you a clarification all things considered."
His sneer returned, yet this time it was edged with something more obscure. "All good."
We passed into quietness, the heaviness of the circumstance pushing down on us. I could feel his eyes on me, surveying me, working out, however, I would not meet his look.
All things considered, I zeroed in on the little subtleties around me — the weak scratch on the edge of the table, the unobtrusive fragrance of cedar and cowhide that stuck to the air.
At long last, Mike ended the quietness. "On the off chance that we will do this, there should be rules."
"Rules?" I rehashed, grimacing.
"Indeed. Rules. Limits. Anything you desire to call them." He inclined forward, his demeanor serious. "This won't be some heartfelt dream.
You do your part, I'll do mine, and we both leave when it's finished. No inconveniences."
I shuddered at his tone yet gestured. "Fine. No difficulties."
"Furthermore, no falling head over heels," he added, his eyes locking onto mine.
The sheer haughtiness of the assertion made me giggle, a sharp, pompous sound that reverberated in the tranquil room. "Trust me, Mike. That won't be an issue."
Briefly, his appearance mellowed, as though my response had surprised him. However at that point, the cover was back, and he was all business once more.
"Great," he expressed, standing up and changing his suit coat. "We'll mark the calendar soon. The sooner we get this over with, the better."
I remained too, my legs feeling temperamental underneath me. "I can hardly stand by," I said, my voice trickling with mockery.
He looked at me, a glimmer of entertainment in his eyes, yet he didn't answer. All things being equal, he turned and strolled toward the entryway, his strides reverberating in the vacant space.
"Mike," I shouted toward him, leaving him speechless.
He turned, his appearance ambiguous. "What?"
"This may be a business plan for you, yet it's my life," I said, my voice shuddering with a blend of outrage and assurance. "Remember that."
He maintained eye contact with me briefly before gesturing once. "Noted."
And afterward, he was gone, abandoning me with the heaviness of what had simply occurred.
I sank once again into my seat, my brain dashing. This wasn't just about me any longer. It was about Mia, about shielding her from individuals who might involve her as a pawn.
Yet, as I stayed there, gazing at the unfilled glass Mike had abandoned, a pestering idea crawled into my psyche.
Kaila and Jemma had coordinated this whole wreck, yet why Mike? Of the multitude of individuals they might have picked, why him?
There was something I wasn't seeing, some piece of the riddle I hadn't yet revealed.
Furthermore, I planned to find it, regardless of what it took.
As Cath left the room, she heard a quiet discussion in the corridor. Kaila's voice, sharp and obvious, floated through the broken entryway.
"She doesn't have to know reality yet. Not until the agreement is agreed upon."
Cath froze, her heart pounding. The truth about what?
“This is the happiest day of your life. Smile, for heaven’s sake.”Kaila's voice ground on my nerves as her nails dove into my arm, directing me toward the plated swinging doors of the setting.Her fragrance, sharp and overwhelming, gripped the air between us. The texture of my white glossy silk dress felt choking, every last trace of it an untruth."I'm marrying a man I scarcely know," I murmured brutally, yanking my arm free. "What precisely is there to grin about?"Kaila's painted-on grin floundered briefly before she recovered. "Insight is everything, dear.No one needs to see a lady of the hour moping. Presently, get in there and make it look acceptable."I breathed in profoundly, steadying myself as the weighty entryways squeaked open. The room fell quiet. Many new faces moved in the direction of me, their appearances going from interest to apathy.Mike remained toward the finish of the path, his stance firm, his demeanor garbled.He was as immaculately dressed as anyone might i
“This place is too quiet,” I muttered, my voice barely carrying across the cavernous hallway.Mike didn’t bother turning around. He was halfway up the grand staircase, his steps echoing in the emptiness, his posture rigid and unwelcoming.The ornate chandelier overhead cast a cold, sterile glow on the polished marble floors and towering walls lined with art too abstract to appreciate."It's anything but a jungle gym," he answered briefly. "You'll become accustomed to it."I shuddered at his tone, looking as he vanished into the upper floor without even a retrogressive look. The quiet surrounded me once more, weighty and choking.The head servant, a more seasoned man with silver hair and an articulation as indistinguishable as Mike's made a sound as if to speak."Will I show you to your room, Mrs. Rowling?"The title ground on my nerves, yet I gestured, grasping the handle of my bag. "Lead the way."He moved with rehearsed accuracy, his cleaned shoes tapping softly against the floor as
As I made what seemed like the hundredth adjustment to the hem of her dress, I urged Mia to remember to smile. Unable to believe she was about to go into the opulent world of the Rowlands, she stood in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection with wide eyes.With wonder in her voice, Mia muttered, "I can't believe this is my life now."I let out a sigh, thinking I could somehow ease her burden. It was unfair. Mia was only a young child, caught up in the mayhem I had voluntarily entered.My hand touched her shoulder. "I understand, but Mia, you're strong. Additionally, you'll leave a lasting impression.Her mouth quivered a little. "I don’t know if I can do this…"I gave her a little, reassuring grin and nodded. "You've completed it already. You simply aren't aware of it yet."I observed that Mia appeared to get taller with each step as we made our way down the grand staircase of the Rowling estate, her posture becoming somewhat more erect. She was undoubtedly anxious, yet a quie
"How’s the mansion treating you?" As Jemma entered the stately foyer, her flawlessly manicured nails glistening in the gentle light, her voice was brimming with kindness. Her heels clicking on the marble floor served as a reminder of her identity as she walked in without waiting for an invitation. It also caused my stomach to turn."Jemma, what are you doing here?" It was difficult for me to control the hint of annoyance in my voice.She claimed, "I was just in the neighborhood," with a smile that was too radiant to be real. "I wanted to see how you were doing. Observe how you're adapting."Getting settled. The words hurt more than I thought they would. It wasn't as though I had any say in the situation. I didn't live here. It wasn't my intention to be here. My life had been completely upended, and Mike had promised me nothing but an empty marriage and the chilly comfort of his mansion, which is why I was here.I mumbled, "Thanks," keeping my voice barely polite.As she moved deeper i
"She’s got your eyes."The words hung between us like a dense mist in the air. Eleanor sipped her tea nonchalantly, her fingers carefully caressing the rim of her cup, and I halted, staring at her. I got a chill from the way she said it, as if it were simply another observation."What did you say?" I inquired, sounding much too abrasive and defensive.Eleanor didn't appear to be aware. A tiny, hardly noticeable smile curled her lips as she put down her cup. Her gaze remained fixed on my face, as calm and calculating as ever."Mia," she uttered quietly, as if the name alone had some kind of influence. "She has Mike's eyes, your eyes. The same blue color. It's eerie.My heart pounded loudly in my chest as I tensed up. I was urged by my thinking to seem normal and dismiss her remarks as only another casual remark. However, there was something about her tone and the way she was staring at me that gave me the impression that I was in a trap.My fists clenched around the glass of water befo
"Is this really how you want things to be?"The tight calm that had descended between us was broken by his voice, which was low, strained, and almost imploring. I stared at the floor and tried to contain the emotions that were about to explode, so I didn't respond immediately away. Unspoken words and the weight of everything we weren't discussing filled the air.With my heart thumping and blood thumping in my ears, I eventually raised my eyes to meet his. Mike stood with his arms folded and his concentrated gaze searching my for something that might explain this mess. However, I had nothing. I was worn out. I was upset. I was also apprehensive. I wouldn't allow him to watch it, though. Not quite yet."How do you want things to be, then?" In an attempt to maintain some sort of control, I snapped, my voice taut. Everything was brewing inside of me, including irritation and fury, and it was simpler to snap than to cope with the tangle of feelings that were brewing beneath the surface.Mi
"Are you going to eat that?"Mia looked up at me across the dinner table and spoke in a little, almost hesitant voice. She fumbled with the edge of her napkin, her dish half-finished, the food unfinished. I briefly believed that she might be putting me to the test to see how I would react to something as basic as food.I looked back at her after taking a quick look at the piece of chicken that was still on my plate. I answered, "Yeah, I guess so," in a softer tone than I intended.Although she didn't smile, I could detect a gleam of optimism that she might be able to get through to me in her eyes. Feeling the weight of the stillness that had hung over us since supper began, I pushed the final piece into my mouth and reclined in my chair.Mike was remarkably silent tonight, absorbed in his own thoughts and gazing at his plate as if it had the solutions to a puzzle he was unable to solve. Over the past few days, our typical tension had increased, and I wasn't sure if that was due to the
"Why don’t you ever ask me what I want?" Mike's voice sliced like a razor through the silence.I was taken aback and stopped in my tracks. His figure loomed against the room's dim light, and the study door stood open. I wasn't sure if I should go inside or back off, and he hadn't spotted me yet.Eleanor responded with her typical contempt, "Mike, you're being dramatic." "You are the family's leader. Your obligations take precedence over your emotions.My breath caught. Even though I didn't intend to listen in, their comments held me in place."Responsibilities," Mike said again in a sour tone. "Eleanor, is that all I am to you? Just a legacy, a name, and nothing else?"Eleanor shot back dismissively, "You're letting your emotions cloud your judgment." "You always have."Just as suddenly as it had started, the talk ended, and I rushed out, my footsteps quiet on the plush carpet. I wanted to avoid getting caught. Not right now, when Eleanor was just being herself and Mike was obviously
"Are you certain of this?" Cath's hand shook a little as it was in mine, and her voice was quiet."Have I ever had more confidence in anything?" My gaze was fixed on hers as I asked.Although she smiled, a glimmer of uncertainty was visible on her face. "I just didn't think we'd get here after everything."I grabbed her hand more tightly and drew her in. This isn't about where we've been, Cath. It concerns our destination.The garden was drenched in amber and gold hues as the sun sank, creating the ideal atmosphere for the moment I had been waiting to give her—a genuine beginning free from fear, manipulation, or contracts. Even though it was just the two of us at the time, the little gathering of relatives and friends who had gathered around us demonstrated how far we had come.The officiant started talking, but I hardly heard him. The way Cath's eyes gleamed with unshed tears, how her breath caught when I put the ring back on her finger, and how her lips trembled into a grin that bro
As I reached for her hand, Cath narrowed her eyes suspiciously and remarked, "You're hiding something.""Avoidance? Me? My lips formed a smile that I hoped would disarm her as I pretended to be innocent."Mike, you're awful at lying," she shot back, reclined on the park bench. Her silky waves of hair turned to liquid gold when the sunshine caressed them. Her eyebrows were raised in interest as she took a quick look at the canvas bag I had insisted on bringing.I joked, staring into her eyes for a little too long, "Perhaps I'm just full of surprises."The sound of her laughter was beautiful and light. "If that is the case, I am undoubtedly anxious."My heart was a frantic thumping inside. I had been anticipating this moment, which kept me up at night organizing every little detail. Despite this, I was afraid as I sat there next the woman who had completely changed my life for the better.I knew she loved me, so it wasn't rejection. but of not knowing how to express to her how much I lo
Cath's voice was quiet but roiling with rage as she replied, "She thought I wouldn't find out." "Once again, she underestimated me."Her face was shadowed by the low light as I sat across from her at the kitchen table. She was holding a manila folder, the edges of which were worn from her overly firm grasp. Pages of evidence, each more damning than the last, were included within."She didn't simply undervalue you," I leaned forward and remarked. "She undervalued us both."Cath scattered the contents of the folder across the table after opening it. She continued, her voice trembling with barely controlled rage, "This is everything." "The falsehoods, the offshore accounts, the phony charities. For years, she has been defrauding her investors. You know whose name appears on half of it?I felt sick to my stomach when I looked through the papers. Kaila had exercised caution, but not enough. A few thoughtless errors—a traceable email here, a signature there—ruined her attempts to conceal he
"You mean you knew what?"Cath's piercing, incredulous voice broke the tension. With her arms folded tightly across her chest, she stood in the center of the living room, gazing at Jemma as if she had never seen her before.Jemma's face remained unflinching, but she was unable to conceal the fact that her fingers were twisting the gold bracelet around her wrist. She calmly answered, "I didn't think it was my place to say anything.""Where do you live?" I quickly retaliated, intervening before Cath could. "Jemma, you've been interfering in our lives for months. Don't act like you've discovered boundaries all of a sudden.Jemma's eyes narrowed as her attention strayed to mine. She yelled, "I was defending this family." "With the way you've been destroying it, someone had to.""Dismantling it?" Cath's voice raised, shaky with rage. "Can you hear yourself at all? All the things Mike and I have battled for, all the obstacles we have surmounted, and you— Shaking her head incredulously, she
"Do you believe she will ever pardon me?"The silence in the room was broken by Cath's voice, which was gentle yet heavy with a vulnerability I wasn't used to hearing from her. With her hands gripped tightly together, she sat at the edge of the bed and gazed down at the faded carpet as if it held the solution to her query.I said, leaning against the doorframe, "Mia's a kid, Cath." "Perfection is not necessary for kids. They require affection. And you've given her that every day, even during difficult times.Cath's eyes met mine as she turned her head slightly. "What if it's insufficient?"I walked over to her and firmly replied, "It will be." I knelt down in front of her and held her hands. "Me and you? We will ensure that it is.We were silent for a time. I could see the cautiousness in her eyes relax slightly as the silent hum of the city outside filled the void between us.A tiny voice then resounded along the corridor. “Mom? Mike?”Cath suddenly straightened, a look of concern re
"You don't think I'm telling the truth?" Cath's voice was low and tremulous, yet it was piercing enough to cut through the room's silence.Her words hit me like a challenge as I looked up from the coffee mug I was holding. Her eyes, which I used to believe I understood better than my own, were filled with an inexplicable mixture of hurt, rage, and perhaps even a glimmer of hope.I put the coffee down and stated slowly, "It's not about believing you." It's about determining how to proceed. Together.Cath gave a nasty, nearly barking chuckle. "Companions? Mike, do you even understand what that means?Her accusation stung more than I anticipated. I wanted to protect myself and fire back, but I refrained. She was not mistaken."Then demonstrate for me," I responded steadily. "Cath, tell me what you need from me. I'll do it, whatever it is.The tension between us stretched like a wire ready to break as she paced the tiny living room with her arms crossed tightly over her chest. "It's not t
"Mike, why do you always flee when things get tough?"Long after Cath had bounded out of the park that day, the question continued to haunt me. I didn't have a solid response back then, and I wasn't sure I did now. A critical and merciless reflection of myself gazed back at me from the café window. The city outside shifted as though nothing had happened, as though my whole universe hadn't been upended.I swirled my coffee because it was something to do, not because I intended to drink it—it had gone cold an hour ago. Something to help me stay grounded when my thoughts were racing.In actuality, Cath was correct. When things got tough, I did run. I was afraid of the potential of something real, therefore I had fled from her, from us. I now had to consider whether it was too late to repair the damage I had caused.I had been struggling for days with the decision to see her. It was the sensible thing to do, I kept telling myself. Express regret, provide an explanation, and attempt to pre
"Cath, you lack the courage to interrupt me. You didn't.The arrogance that only Kaila could summon echoed in my ears as she spoke. Like a villain who always thought they had already won, she stood in the doorway of my living room, composed and unflappable.I kept my arms crossed so she couldn't see the quiver rising in my chest. "Kaila, you are not allowed to make that call. No more.Her chuckle was piercing. "Really? following all that I have done for you? For this household? You believe you can simply leave?""I don’t think," I responded, taking a step forward. "I know."Her eyes narrowed as she swiftly recovered from the little moment of hesitation in her smile. What about Mia, too? To play this little game with me, are you truly willing to risk losing her?I grounded myself by taking a deep breath. It was this. I had been postponing this moment for years because I was frightened of the consequences. This time, though, Kaila had gone too far, and I wasn't going to allow her to des
"You don’t deserve her, Cath."I froze as the words struck me like a slap. The shrill, poisonous voice of Kaila cut through the café's silence. Her elegant designer suit and flawlessly done hair contrasted sharply with the turmoil she was bringing into my life, making her a picture of deliberate control as she stood across from me.I carefully put down my coffee cup so she wouldn't see my shaking hands. "What are you talking about?"Uninvited, she slid into the seat across from me and leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. "Mia. You're not worthy of being her mother.My chest erupted with anger, but I made myself remain composed. "I have given Mia my everything. Everything. You're not allowed to enter here and—"She interrupted, dismissively waving a manicured palm. "Save it," she said. "You have deceived her, tricked her, and pulled her into a chaotic life. Is that really what's best for her, in your opinion?I gasped. Despite her gentle tone, Kaila's remarks had a weight that made my s