Chapter 19 #2
The words hung in the air like smoke, acrid and choking. I saw Mrs. Wesley’s hands still on the serving spoon, saw Mr. Wesley’s face go pale, saw Angelo look down at his plate like he wished he could disappear through the floor.
And I saw Nick’s expression crack, hurt and anger warring across his features.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said quietly, but there was steel in his voice I’d rarely heard. “You don’t know him.”
“And you do?” Heather shot back. “What, a few weeks of playing house and suddenly he’s not the monster who forced you into this marriage? Like he wouldn’t put a bullet in your head if you got in the way?”
I should’ve stayed quiet. Should’ve let Nick handle his sister, should’ve been the bigger person. But something in me snapped at hearing her call me a monster when I’d spent the last few weeks trying so damn hard to be anything but.
“You’re right,” I said, my voice colder than I’d intended. “I’m not a good person. I come from a family that does terrible things, and I’ve done my share of terrible things too. But I never forced Nick into anything he didn’t agree to.”
“You gave him no choice—”
“There’s always a choice,” I interrupted, meeting her furious gaze head-on.
“Your father could’ve let the Valentis take the ranch.
You could’ve married me instead. Nick could’ve walked away and let everything burn.
But he didn’t. He made a choice, the same way I made a choice to honor the contract and try to make this work. ”
“How noble of you,” she sneered. “Honoring a contract that never should’ve existed in the first place. If you would’ve threatened him with a gun, it might’ve been more romantic.”
“You’re right about that too. The contract shouldn’t have existed.
But it does, and we’re all living with the consequences.
” I took a breath, trying to rein in my temper.
“I can’t change where I come from, Heather.
I can’t undo the fact that my family does business in ways you find morally reprehensible.
But I can try to be better. I can try to make this situation work for everyone, including your brother. ”
“By sleeping with him?” The words came out like an accusation, and the entire room went deathly silent.
My blood ran cold. How did she…?
“What?” Mrs. Wesley’s voice was barely a whisper, the serving spoon clattering against the dish.
Nick had gone rigid beside me, his face drained of all color. Mr. Wesley was staring at his daughter with an expression I couldn’t quite read, and Angelo looked like he wanted to crawl under the table and die.
“Oh please,” Heather said, though I could see her hands shaking slightly.
“You think I’m blind? The way you two look at each other, the hickey on Nick’s neck that he tried to cover up yesterday, the fact that you’re both always ‘busy’ when someone comes looking for you.
..” She laughed, but it sounded brittle.
“I’m not stupid. And apparently neither is anyone else on this ranch, based on the gossip I’ve been hearing. ”
My heart was pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears. This was it. This was the moment everything fell apart. Nick would deny it, would distance himself from me to protect his reputation, and I’d be back to being the monster everyone thought I was.
But then Nick’s hand found mine under the table, his fingers lacing through my own in a grip that was almost painful.
“So what if we are?” he said, his voice steady despite the tremor I could feel running through him. “So what if this marriage is more than just a business arrangement? Don’t I deserve to find some happiness too?”
Mrs. Wesley made a small sound, and I couldn’t tell if it was distress or surprise. Mr. Wesley took a long drink of his beer, his expression unreadable.
Heather stared at her brother like she’d never seen him before. “You’re serious,” she breathed. “You’re actually... with him…”
“Yes, Heather,” Nick growled. “And maybe if you stopped being a bitch to my husband for two seconds, you’d realize that I’m trying to make the best of a terrible situation.”
“You… You’re defending him?” she gasped. “Over me?” She stood up quickly, her chair skidding across the floor with a screech. “I don’t even know who you are anymore.”
In a flash she was out of the house, the screen door slamming behind her. Nick started to get up, but Angelo stopped him.
“I’ll keep an eye on her,” he said, something protective and determined in his voice that made Nick nod.
After Angelo left, Nick looked up at his parents, shaking his head. “I’m sorry. I just… I blew up.”
But his parents weren’t looking at him. They were staring at me.
“Look,” I said at last. “I know I’m not what you wanted for your son or what you imagined. I’m the monster that came in and held you all hostage.” I looked back at Nick, hoping I wasn’t making a huge mistake. “But I’m falling in love with him. And I promise to keep him safe.”
Nick was frozen beside me, his fingers limp against mine. Mr. Wesley was quiet, his gaze fixed on the table as his wife let out a small gasp. My only saving grace was that Angelo wasn’t there. Not a single word was spoken.
Dinner was going to be a silent affair.