I hated the Solar family. I hated Solar Manor. If Robyn understood the depths of my loathing for my own family, she’d understandably wonder why I’d ever want to be a part of this people, why I’d ever give up so much to become the head of the household.
But that would be shortsighted.
I reached the end of a corridor and turned the knob on an old, oak door. It opened on rusty hinges, screeching the whole time. A thick layer of dust sat on its trim.
Cold air hit me as I stepped out into a small courtyard, shaded by peaked roofs, surrounded by bare walls.
Robyn followed hesitantly. My feet crunched over dead grass. I followed an old path made from flagstones toward a single bench. All around, flowerbeds were barren, filled with weeds, overgrown and gone back to the wild. In the summer, this place would overflow, and the staff would cut it all back once or twice a year.
Otherwise, it would remain empty.
I sat on the stone bench. It was old, older than this place. Perhaps ancient, I didn’t know. Robyn lingered, looking around.
“What is this?”
“It’s the only spot I could ever be alone.” I smiled and looked up at the sky. “Nobody ever comes here. I don’t know why it still exists. My great-grandfather must’ve had it installed when he was still alive, but after he passed, it fell into disuse. I found it when I was a kid and never mentioned it to my parents, and I’m not even sure they realize its here.”
“Someone mows this grass.” She looked around, touching her lips. “Though not often.”
“In the summer, I’d run around the tall grass and play games. My brothers didn’t know about it, so I’d have it all to myself. You can’t imagine how happy I’d feel in this place, imagining wars and dramas and epic duels. I was the king of this place.”
“It’s the only happy memory you have from home, isn’t it?” She sat down and put a hand on my leg.
“I wanted you to see it before we went back to Blackwood.”
“Thank you.”
I took her hand and dropped to a knee in front of her. She pulled back, but I didn’t release her palm. I touched her skin then ran a finger around the ring.
“I want you to understand something.” I spoke low, like the memories infusing this place might hear. The child version of myself wouldn’t understand this, wouldn’t understand any of it. He was broken and angry and alone, but still so naive. He didn’t know how bad it could get. “When I said those words, I meant them. I will do anything for you, Robyn.”
“Calvin—”
“Anything.” I squeezed her hand hard. “I know you despise me. You hate what I am and what I’ve done. I can’t pretend that I’m a good man or that your life won’t have pain. It will hurt, love. It always does. That’s being alive. But I swear, so long as you’re my wife, I will give you anything you want, and make every day better.”
She let out a long breath and gently pulled her hand away. I stayed there, unmoving. I didn’t need her to accept, and didn’t expect her to. This was a solemn oath, and not something that needed her approval.
I didn’t care if she wanted me or not. I didn’t care if she hated me.
Robyn was mine, and so long as we remained married, I’d devote myself to her.
Whether she wanted it or not.
“This is a business arrangement.” She spoke softly, as if she were afraid of the magic of this place. I couldn’t blame her. It was beautiful. I could feel it in my bones. “You and me? We’re not real. I know it feels real, but it’s not.”
“Real doesn’t matter. Fake doesn’t matter.”
“It matters to me. We’re still in college. I’m not ready—” She choked on her words and stopped, looking at her lap. “I’m not ready for any of this. You’re too much.”
“You’re enough.”
“Stop it.” She stared at me, anger in her eyes. I smiled back, loving every second of this. “I know we had sex. I shouldn’t have done it. I can’t help myself sometimes, but that doesn’t mean I want to be your wife forever. I’m doing this to get revenge against your brothers and to make sure my father never walks free again. Once those goals are accomplished, we’re finished. Do you understand?” She touched my cheek. “Tell me you understand.”
I pulled her hand away. “I understand.”
“Good.” She gave me a tentative smile. “Thank you for bringing me. I really do like it. I’m sorry your life here was so awful.”
“It wasn’t your fault.”
“But I won’t change my mind. You have to know that.”
I nodded. She seemed to take that as acceptance and turned away. She walked to the house and the door, and I watched her go, hips swaying slightly in that dress, every inch of my body on fire.