Chapter 11 #2
"Mr. Wallace, when did you first meet Judith Mars?"
I keep my expression neutral. "Two months ago." Not technically a lie. We'd exchanged emails through the classified site before meeting in person.
"And where was this meeting?"
"The Velvet Antler in Crimson Hollow." This part is true enough.
"Yet you married less than a week later." He raises his eyebrows dramatically. "Quite the whirlwind romance."
"When you know, you know." I meet his gaze steadily.
He turns to Judith. "Ms. Mars, what brought you to Crimson Hollow? It's quite a change from Toronto."
"I needed a fresh start." Her voice remains calm, professional. "I'd ended a difficult relationship and wanted somewhere peaceful to rebuild."
"And you just happened to meet Mr. Wallace."
"Yes."
"And fall instantly in love."
Judith smiles, the expression disarmingly genuine. "Not instantly, no. But when I got to know him, saw the care he took with his craft, the way he valued tradition and family legacy... yes, I fell in love."
Something shifts in my chest at her words. The conviction in her tone. The warmth in her eyes when she glances my way.
"And what are your plans after December 26th, Mr. Wallace? Once the inheritance deadline is satisfied?"
All eyes turn to me. Including Judith's, questioning, uncertain.
"To continue building our life together." The words come without conscious thought. "The deadline is irrelevant to our marriage. It simply accelerated our timeline."
Judith's sharp intake of breath is audible only to me. We hadn't discussed this. Hadn't decided anything beyond acknowledging we weren't ready for December 26th to end what we'd started.
The county attorney senses weakness. "So you're testifying, under oath, that you married for love, not to secure your inheritance?"
"I'm testifying that I married Judith because I want her in my life." I meet his gaze without flinching. "The inheritance situation accelerated our timeline, but doesn't define our relationship."
"How convenient."
"Enough." The judge interrupts. "The couple has answered your questions, Counselor. I see no evidence of fraud here, only suspicion and innuendo. The marriage is legal, the requirements of the will are met, and the land transfer shall proceed as outlined in the original petition."
She bangs her gavel with finality. "Case closed."
Relief floods through me, but when I turn to Judith, her expression is unreadable. We follow Silas from the courtroom in silence, not speaking until we're outside in the winter air.
"Congratulations." Silas shakes my hand firmly. "The paperwork will be processed by end of day tomorrow. The land is officially yours, free and clear."
"Thank you." I glance at Judith, who stands slightly apart, arms wrapped around herself.
Silas follows my gaze, reading the tension between us. "I'll leave you two to celebrate. And... good luck tomorrow."
He doesn't need to specify what he means. Marc's arrival hangs over us like a storm cloud.
The drive home is weighted with silence. Judith stares out the window, fingers restlessly tracing patterns on her thigh. I focus on the road, giving her space to process.
Only when we're back at the cabin, fire rekindled and coffee poured, does she finally speak.
"You made a decision without consulting me." No anger in her tone, just tired resignation that somehow cuts deeper.
"I did." No point denying it. "The situation required immediate response."
"The situation." She sets down her mug carefully. "You mean our marriage. Our future. Whether we're actually staying together past December 26th."
"Yes."
"And you didn't think that deserved a conversation? That I deserved input?" Now the anger surfaces, flashing in her dark eyes. "That's exactly what Marc did. Decided my future for me."
The comparison stings. "That's not fair."
"Isn't it? You stood in that courtroom and stated, under oath, that we're continuing our marriage. That December 26th is irrelevant." She rises, pacing the living room. "You changed the terms without asking me."
"We both said we weren't ready for December 26th." I remain seated, keeping my voice level despite the tension building in my chest.
"Not being ready isn't the same as announcing we're building a life together!" She rounds on me. "Maybe I needed more time to think. To decide what I want."
"And what do you want, Judith?" I finally stand, patience fraying. "Because four days ago, you couldn't answer that question."
"I want a choice!" Her voice rises, emotion breaking through her usual composure. "I want to be asked, not told. I want to decide my future, not have it decided for me again."
The words hit hard. Because she's right. I did exactly what I promised not to do. Made unilateral decisions that affect both of us.
"You're right." The admission costs me, but she deserves nothing less. "I overstepped. I should have discussed it with you first."
She stares at me, clearly not expecting this response. "Yes. You should have."
"I'm not Marc." I move toward her slowly, giving her space to retreat if needed. "I don't want to control you. I want to protect you. Sometimes those instincts get blurred."
Some of the tension leaves her shoulders. "I don't need protection, Dario. I need partnership."
"I know." I stop before her, close enough to touch but not touching. "I'm not used to considering someone else in my decisions. It's been just me for a long time."
"I understand that." Her voice softens slightly. "But this isn't just about buying the wrong groceries or scheduling a furniture delivery. This is our lives."
"Our lives." I repeat the words, testing how they feel. "Is that what you want? A life with me beyond December 26th?"
Her eyes meet mine, vulnerability and strength mixing in their dark depths.
"I don't know." She answers honestly. "I know I want more time with you. I know what we have is... special. Different. But I also know I need to make this choice for myself. Not because you declared it in a courtroom or because Marc is threatening us or because your land was at stake."
I nod, understanding. "Take whatever time you need. No pressure. No deadline."
"And if I decide I want to leave after December 26th?"
The possibility sends a cold spike through my chest, but I keep my voice steady. "Then I'll respect your decision."
She studies me, searching for truth in my expression. Whatever she sees must satisfy her, because she steps forward, closing the distance between us.
"What about you?" Her hand comes to rest against my chest, over my heart. "What do you want, Dario? Beyond keeping your land."
I cover her hand with mine, holding it against the heartbeat she's accelerated. "I want you. However I can have you, for as long as you'll stay."
The simple truth, stripped of tactics and strategy. The most exposed I've allowed myself to be outside the bedroom.
"Even though this started as a business arrangement?"
I bring her hand to my lips, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. "We've seen each other at our most calculating, our most pragmatic. And still found something worth keeping."
Tears gather in her eyes, though she doesn't let them fall. "Marc arrives tomorrow."
"I know." I pull her gently against me, relief flooding through me when she doesn't resist. "We'll handle him together."
She nods against my chest, arms circling my waist. "Together."
We stand like that for long moments, the fire crackling beside us, snow beginning to fall outside. Nothing resolved, nothing promised beyond facing what comes next as a united front.
It's not enough. But for now, it's what we have.
Later, as darkness falls and we prepare for bed, my phone rings. The number belongs to Micah.
"Wallace." I answer, tension immediately returning to my shoulders.
Micah's voice comes through, grim and direct. "Marc Alexander's flight landed in Vancouver two hours ago. He rented a car and is driving toward Crimson Hollow."
"He's early." I glance at Judith, who watches me with concern. "ETA?"
"Weather's bad on the mountain pass. If he makes it through tonight, he'll arrive by morning. If not, he'll be stuck until they clear the roads."
"Keep me posted." I end the call, turning to Judith. "He's coming early. Trying to catch us off guard."
She nods, face paling slightly but resolve firming. "Let him try."
As I pull her close, I find myself hoping the storm intensifies, closing the mountain pass for days. Buying us more time in this bubble we've created, before reality intrudes in the form of her ex-fiancé.
But even as I wish for delay, I know the confrontation is inevitable. Marc Alexander is coming, determined to expose our arrangement and reclaim what he believes is his.
He has no idea what he's up against. Not my military training or my mountain isolation or even Micah's security team.
But the simple fact that what started as a business transaction has grown into something neither Judith nor I are willing to surrender without a fight.