His Merciless Marriage Bargain

He didn’t let her. He held her, and then he pressed a kiss to her forehead, the kiss careful, gentle, far too kind. “Our guests are waiting. I will help you put your veil back on, and then let’s go finish what we have begun.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

SHE FELT WOODEN during the twenty-minute ceremony, and then dead during the reception.

It was all a blur. The meal. The toasts. The music. The cake.

She didn’t even remember stepping on to the ballroom floor for their dance. She couldn’t feel her legs. Couldn’t feel anything but Gio’s hand on her side, his hand on her back, his hand on her arm as he steered her here and there, from one place to another, keeping her moving, keeping up appearances, keeping it together.

And then finally, finally it was over and she was in her room, but it wasn’t her room anymore. During the reception someone had emptied the wardrobe in the blue guest room and taken everything out, taking all of her things out, putting them elsewhere.

Rachel sank onto her bed, the bed that was no longer her bed, her white full skirts pillowing up, and then fluttering down.

She didn’t have anything anymore. She wasn’t even herself anymore.

The door opened and closed. She knew without looking that it was Gio. She could feel his energy and intensity from across the room.

“This isn’t your room anymore,” he said quietly.

Hot tears filled her eyes. “You’ve taken everything from me.”

“But I’ve also given everything to you. My home, my name, my heart—”

“You don’t have a heart.”

He didn’t answer, not right away. He walked around the perimeter of the room, studying the blue silk wall covering and the enormous gold framed mirror and then the blue painted dresser with the pair of blue vases.

“If that was true, then I wouldn’t feel anything right now,” he said, lifting one of the blue vases and turning it in his hands. “I wouldn’t care so very much that I’ve hurt you. And I wouldn’t mind that you’re in here, alone, feeling betrayed and deceived.” He set the vase back down and faced her. “But I do mind very much. It wounds me that I’ve hurt you and ruined your wedding day—”

“Please stop. You’re just making it worse. I don’t want to talk to you. I don’t want to see you. I just want to go home, to Seattle.”

“But this is your home now.”

“No.”

“Yes. And we are a family now.”

“Never!”

“And my wife, whom I love.”

She covered her ears and squeezed her eyes shut, refusing to listen, unable to endure any more. He’d won. Couldn’t he see that he’d won? Did he have to break her completely? “Then prove it,” she cried, jumping up. “Prove you love me. Do what’s best for me. Let me go.”

He stood before her, expression shuttered. “Giving up on you, giving up on us, doesn’t prove love. It shows defeat.”

“I’m not a challenge. I’m not a business deal.”

“I know. You’re my wife.”

“But I don’t want to be your wife, not like this, and for me, this…” She gestured to the room, the house, the city beyond the windows, “This will never be okay.”

She had to go. She had to get out of here. She’d leave everything behind. She didn’t need her clothes, or her suitcase. She just needed her passport. “I’m leaving,” she said hoarsely. “Tonight. I don’t want anything from you. I don’t want money. I just want my passport so I can go.”

“What about Michael’s?”

“I’m not taking him with me. He will stay here with you for now, but I’m hiring an attorney. I’m going to sue for custody—”

“It could take years, and I’m not sure you’d win.”

“What else am I to do? Stay here and pretend that you didn’t lie to me and manipulate me?”

“I’m asking you to forgive me. I’m asking you to understand that I was in a difficult position, too.”

“I was not a gold digger!” She threw the words at him, eyes brilliant with unshed tears. “I never wanted your money. I wanted you.”

“Good. Because I want you. Not just want you. I need you.” He hesitated. “I need you with me.”

“You don’t mean it. You can’t even say the words without flinching.”

“It’s true. I don’t speak of love easily, and until tonight, I have never told any woman I loved her. Just as you refused to make love until you had found the right one, I have held out, too. There are only a few people in my life that I can say I truly love. My mother. My brother. Michael. And you.” He approached her. “Yes, you. I love you, Rachel.”