Chapter 16
Rose – A Week Later
“It’s time for you to know you are not Rose Anders but Rose Garcia…”
I swallow hard as I listen to Cage’s voice and take in the certificate I’m hold.
My eyes reading over every little detail proving what Cage said last week.
He sent me into a state of shock, apparently, I am indeed his wife, Rose Garcia.
That he really did have me sign a marriage license, that he had my sister sign as a witness and I looked into it twenty minutes ago, Judge Jones confirmed it really is real.
I came home about an hour ago, spending the week not believing his words, thinking the club didn’t have that much power in our small town.
To be able to not only divorce someone without their knowledge within two days when it could take years and years if the other person contests it.
But to also have married me. He left the marriage certificate on my bed along with a ring box I have yet to open.
Cage left half an hour after finishing his explanation with a kiss to the head and a promise to allow me time to digest his words and to finish the first half of my course in New York.
He also admitted a brother called Viking who lived near by and ran their underground fight club would be keeping an eye on me for my protection.
I did see him a few times which normally I’d be pissed at but Mark was hanging around like a bad smell so I took comfort in the fact Viking was around.
The man, he looks like a Viking, hence his name, with long hair and was never wearing a shirt, showing off his abs.
If I weren’t so madly in love with my lying, cheating, wait no, not cheating but still lying husband I would have eyed the guy.
I freeze. Damn, husband.
I eye the marriage certificate again, pleading with it to just disappear.
A week, we knew each other for a whole freaking week, and he married me without my knowledge. All while still allowing his ex-wife, to believe they’re still married.
He robbed me of the perfect white wedding that most girls dream of. Okay, so that thought makes me want to shiver in disgust. A large white wedding actually sounds terrifying, but still, a ceremony with my parents, my sister, Donna, even.
I groan as I lie flat on my bed, the sheets smelling fresh which I’m guessing had something to do with my sister or Cage.
I bite the bullet and put the certificate next to me and grab the ring box, bringing it up to my face slowly.
I open it and the sight takes my breath away.
I hate Cage even more for knowing me inside and freaking out.
A matching set of silver rings come into view, the band circled with white diamonds while the engagement ring has an oval diamond with hints of light pink.
They’re beautiful, stunning actually, and I can’t even appreciate them because he went behind my back. He made me believe I was the other woman, only to marry me without my knowledge.
I drop my hand and take deep breaths while my phone continues to ring like it has all week.
I’ve ignored my sister's calls and my parents while dodging Mark at work.
He called a couple of times this morning, then messaged asking when I was due to leave New York. Now I’m no longer his colleague, I ignored him, and as for my family… How do I tell them I’m married?
My phone stops vibrating before it starts up again, sighing I blindly pat around my bed before finding it, fed up with the constant buzzing.
I answer, “Hello,” without looking at the screen.
If it’s Mark, I’ll just tell him exactly what I think of him.
“Well, it’s about time, sweetheart,” my dad replies, making me smile, “I was about to call out the SWAT team.”
“Sorry, Dad,” I whisper, and he hums and replies, “You should be. A whole week of radio silence is not okay, sweetheart. Your mama was worried, your sister was ready to fly out and –”
“I’m married,” I blurt, and Dad goes quiet for a moment before he demands softly, “Explain, Rose.”
I swallow hard as I sit up and ask, “Do you remember when I asked you about Stone?”
“Yeah…” He confirms.
I admit, “Stone is apparently Cage, the man I’d been seeing for five months and kept putting off meeting you and Mama.”
“Ah fuck,” Dad mutters, “He knew I’d recognize him instantly.”
“Yep, because apparently you were around when he was growing up, and he didn’t want you to tell me he was married,” I huff, frustration building again.
“So explain how you are now married,” Dad asks gently.
I growl, “It’s the alpha hole that made me fall in love with him’s fault! He didn’t me about his wife, or about his club. Then he was with me for one whole week when he decided I was ‘the one’.”
Dad chuckles, “Sounds about right for a brother,” and I snap, “Dad!” and he clears his throat and says, “Sorry, sweetheart, continue.”
I huff, “Apparently, he has a judge on his pay roll,” Dad cuts in again, “Most likely Judge Jones,” and I continue, “To grant him the divorce his father has refused for him to get over the years. And then he had me sign a marriage license claiming he wanted my signature for when I became a famous pediatric cardiology nurse. I said yes. And I know I shouldn’t have fallen for it.
He even got Kimmy to sign as witness before he filed it. ”
Dad’s quiet for a moment and I don’t say anything knowing he needs to process.
Heck, I didn’t come out of my shocked state for two whole hours before I decided he had to be lying to save face.
I allowed myself to believe it until I got back an hour ago and saw the evidence myself and yes my heart fluttered seeing the words… Then I scolded myself.
“I always liked that kid,” my dad finally murmurs, and I gasp, “Daddy!”
He did not just say that, seriously?
The man married his daughter, I mean, where’s the cursing, where are the threats?
What kind of father is this man?!
He chuckles and says, “Sorry, sweetheart, but I did. He always put everyone else before himself. He was eighteen, Rose, and the girl claimed she was pregnant. He married for the club and his dad's sake. When everything came out, he wanted to leave her, but his dad said no, claimed it would be bad for the club, even threatened his role within the club, so he stayed with her. He’s a good one, Rose, and I approve, I mean, I don’t like I couldn’t walk you down the aisle, you’re my firstborn, but I still approve. ”
“I-I, he-he….” I stutter before I finally say, “You told me his dad mentioned they live together.”
Dad hums and concludes, “He told me that three months ago, sweetheart, when he was most likely told about you, hoping I’d blab to you, which I did, I just didn’t know what I was babbling.”
“See, even his dad doesn’t want me with him,” I groan as I drop my head, “His wife, ex-wife, whatever the hell she is, is going to be on the warpath once she finds out not only did he divorce her but he then married me right away after basically having an affair.”
Dad hums and admits, “She is quite a nasty woman, mainly after his cut.”
“Daddy!” I snap and he chuckles before he says, “Look, should he have told you about Elsie? Yes, he should have, but would you have continued your relationship with him if you had known about her?”
I don’t say anything because no, I wouldn’t have, even if he didn’t want to be with her. After all, it is the principle of it.
He says, “Exactly what I thought. And did or did you not hold off on your course because you didn’t want to leave him?”
Again, I don’t say anything. I look down because I didn’t want to leave him. I couldn’t bear the thought of not seeing him every day. When I did go, I felt lost and so alone that I didn’t see through Mark’s player ways.
“Sweetheart, get mad at him, throw shit at him, but don’t deny that you don’t love him, that he hasn’t moved heaven and earth just so he doesn’t lose you,” Dad murmurs, “Don’t lie to yourself anymore.”
My jaw ticks as my frustration builds again, hating that Dad can see right through me even on the freaking phone. He slams the nail in the coffin as he states, “Next week, I want a family BBQ, and bring your husband. I love you, sweetheart.”
He hangs up before I can snap at him, just as I hear, “Rose?” and nothing but anger fills me.
He lied about his wife. He lied about his club.
He tricked me into signing a marriage license, and then proceeded to allow his ex-wife to hang off his arm and be all over him for what?
For show? I don’t care, he still allowed it and then he wormed his way into my little sister’s life, getting her on his side and now my father!
“Come on, red, where are you? I know you’re home.
Dirty got a ping,” Cage admits as I slowly stand before his form comes into the doorway.
I see the relief in him, the way his shoulders sag.
He really should be on his guard because after speaking to my dad, the shock has worn off, and the anger has taken its place.
Who in their right mind thinks it is okay to marry someone without them knowing, without giving them a say?
“Hey, beautiful girl,” he whispers as he leans against my doorframe, and I don’t think. I let my actions speak for me as I grab the photo frame of me and him, throwing it in his direction, screeching with pure anger.
Let’s see how he feels about me now, huh?