Marriage Offered, Love Declined: Part 3
Part 3
The fallout with Shaun is more brutal than I ever imagined. It’s made worse by the fact that I’ve been at my father’s bedside for days. My eyes are gritty from lack of sleep, and even though Shaun should know exactly where I’ve been—he had flowers delivered to my father—he’s already accused me of spending the last few days both avoiding him and in bed with his brother.
Initially, I’d seen his refusal to come to the hospital as a blessing because it meant I didn’t have to choke on my guilt. But now, I wish he’d come just once, so he could see for himself that I’ve been hanging on by a thread, trying to hold my mother and brother together as we waited for my father to wake up after his overdose and start talking to us.
I’m trying to reconcile this version of Shaun—who I guess I now have to call my ex—with the man I’ve spent the past eleven months devoted to. It’s a shock for him, learning I’m marrying his brother, but the vitriol and repulsive things he’s called me make me question how well I ever knew him in the first place. And if I don’t know him, well, I certainly don’t know his brother, the man I’ve agreed to marry.
Unlike Shaun, Sebastian did come to the hospital twice while I was with my father. He brought a fruit basket and offered my mother help with anything she might need. That was his first visit. The second time, he pulled me aside to ask how I was, and I asked him why he’d come.
“You agreed to marry me.”
“They don’t know that.”
“But they will know soon enough, and any decent human being would make time to visit his fiancée’s parent in the hospital.”
Somehow, it relieved me to know he was there for business and to keep up appearances rather than for me. The more I focus on the fact that our marriage is a business arrangement, the easier it will be to approach this with the same coolness and detachment he does. This is a bargain, a deal, nothing more.
“Slut… brother’s whore.”
Shaun paces back and forth in the dining room of my home, pausing only to spit more vitriol at me. I cross my arms, digging my nails into my skin as his words land like blows. If I let go, I might shake apart entirely.
I’ve stood here and allowed the name-calling because, one, I know he’s upset and has every right to be angry, and two, it does look bad, and I am a gold-digger marrying for money—though ‘gold-digger’ would be an improvement on half the things he’s called me this evening. Thank God no one is around to hear his rant.
The pacing stops, and I brace for more insults. Instead, he looks at me as if he really hates me. Then he claps slowly. “You played me perfectly, pretending to be so sweet and caring when you’re a scheming, conniving bitch. Pretending you’re some sort of romantic when all you saw were dollar signs. You planned it all, didn’t you? From our first meeting down to our entire relationship, just to get closer to him.”
“That’s not at all what happened!” I shout before I can stop myself.
“No? Then tell me what did happen!” he roars.
I can’t. The moment my father left the hospital, I received the marriage contract from Sebastian. I can’t disclose the details of this to anyone. Briefly, the thought of trying to blackmail him crossed my mind, to take the money without the marriage, but it’s not my style. Besides, I didn’t have to agree. Moreover, one doesn’t simply cross a man like Sebastian Winters and live to tell the tale. If he thought I posed any real threat, he wouldn’t have offered me the position of wife. I say position because it is a position. The matchmaker’s made himself a match.
Shaun laughs, and it’s the most bitter sound I’ve ever heard. “You think he can love again? He hasn’t loved anyone since Sierra. If you’re betting on becoming his exception, you’re going to be miserable.”
Sierra. The name feels like a knife slipped between my ribs—sharp, painful, and uninvited. I don’t know who she is, but I already know she’ll haunt me. She must be the reason Sebastian will never love again, the woman who left the lasting scar on his heart. Shaun clearly knows about her, and the temptation to ask about her is nearly overwhelming. The disdain in his eyes, however, silences my questions.
“You could’ve had it all with me, Liv,” Shaun’s voice cracks, the anger giving way to something rawer—something closer to the man I once loved. “Love, passion, commitment. I would’ve given you my heart.”
For a fleeting moment, his pain feels like my own.
“But Sebastian? Sebastian’s the master at shutting off his feelings. He’s broken, numb, and miserable. He’ll make you miserable.”
Shaun pauses, coming closer. “I’d pity you,” he says, his voice soft and hard at the same time. “Enjoy your life with a man who’ll never truly care about you.”
Shaun storms out, slamming the door behind him. I sink into a chair, staring at the space he’s left empty. His words cling to me, sharp and jagged, whispering the same truth I can’t escape: I’ve made my choice. Now, I have to live with it.
***
“I don’t see why we can’t just go to city hall and get married there,” I say, crossing my arms as I sit in Sebastian’s sleek, minimalist office. The room is all glass, steel, and power—an extension of the man who commands it.
Sebastian leans against his desk, his gaze cool and calculating. “I’m a billionaire, Olivia. People expect a wedding, and we’ll give them one. How do you think it would look in the papers if I were to elope without notice?”
“I thought you didn’t care what people think.”
“I don’t,” he growls, his tone sharp enough to cut. “But being Sebastian Winters comes with certain…expectations. We need people to believe this marriage is real. I shouldn’t have to explain this to you. Doesn’t every woman dream of her perfect wedding?”
“Every woman dreams of marrying a man who loves her,” I snap before I can stop myself.
His expression doesn’t change, but his eyes darken just slightly, the only sign my words hit a nerve. “This isn’t about love. It’s about appearances. And if you’re going to be my wife, appearances matter.”
I look away, unable to hold his gaze. A week ago, I thought I’d marry Shaun and live happily ever after. Now, I’m planning a wedding with his brother—a man who doesn’t believe in love. A man I barely know.
Sebastian straightens, brushing imaginary dust from his sleeve. “I’ve already met with your parents, as you know, and they seemed quite taken with me. Your father, in particular, was pleased with the idea of our… whirlwind romance.”
The memory stings. My parents had been so relieved—so grateful—to hear that Sebastian was ‘smitten.’ He’d played the part flawlessly, his charm disarming any doubt they might have had. The way he kept his arm around me, smiled at me as if I were the only person in the room… it had been almost convincing. Almost. I had to remind myself it was all a performance. A contract disguised as romance.
Not that my parents have any idea. I know exactly how he positioned it—how he convinced my father this wasn’t about obligation but about love. A gift for the woman I love. That’s what he called it. A grand, selfless gesture to secure my future. My father had looked at me with such relief, so much gratitude, that I’d nearly let myself believe it too.
But I know better. The price of that gift has already been set. Sebastian may not have spelled it out in front of my father, but he did to me. This isn’t just a marriage. It’s a deal, neatly outlined in black and white in the legal documents he had drawn up—just in case I tried to wriggle out of my responsibilities.
And there it was, clear as day—I’m expected to share his bed and give him at least one child. At least one. Does he picture me barefoot and pregnant year after year, fulfilling my duty like a proper contract wife?
I haven’t even kissed him yet, and he already expects me to have sex with him. Sex. That’s what it will be. With Shaun, I made love. With Sebastian, it will be sex. What else could it be when there’s no love involved?
Sebastian will be an experienced, controlled lover—I’m sure of it. But I’ve only had two partners, including Shaun. What if I’m not enough for him? What if I disappoint him? Will he turn to his mistress? Does he already have one?
I shove the thought away. It doesn’t matter.
“These aren’t exactly normal circumstances, Sebastian,” I say, trying to keep my voice even. “You’ve given me a month to plan a wedding. I have no idea where to start.”
His lips curve into a faint smile, one that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “I thought you might say that. That’s why I’ve brought in help.”
Before I can respond, he picks up his phone. “Nicole, send in Renee.”
A moment later, the door opens, and in walks a woman who looks like she’s stepped out of a fashion magazine. Her sleek brunette hair falls in perfect waves over her shoulders, and her tailored suit screams sophistication. She smiles warmly at Sebastian, who returns the gesture with a familiarity that makes my stomach twist.
“Olivia,” Sebastian says, turning to me. “This is Renee, my assistant. She’s the best in the business.”
“I wouldn’t go that far,” Renee says with a laugh, her voice warm and confident.
“I would,” Sebastian replies, grinning at her. “It’s not every PA who would cut their European vacation short to help plan her boss’s wedding.”
Her vacation? I feel a pang of guilt. “You didn’t have to do that,” I say quickly.
Renee waves me off. “It’s not a problem. Besides, weddings are much more fun than lounging on a beach.” She looks at Sebastian. “How did the temp work out?”
Sebastian smirks. “Which one? The last one spent more time unbuttoning her blouse than doing any actual work.”
Renee laughs softly, the sound easy and familiar. “Well, you do have that effect on women.”
“Except you,” he replies smoothly. “You’re immune to my charm.”
Something tightens in my chest. Does that mean they’ve never…? I shake the thought away. It doesn’t matter. It shouldn’t matter.
“So,” Sebastian says, looking at Renee. “Money is no object. Make sure Olivia has everything she needs. Spare no expense.”
Renee nods. “Of course.”
“I’m late for a meeting,” he adds, grabbing his jacket from the back of his chair. “You can use my office for as long as you need.”
Without another word, he strides out, leaving the room suffused with his presence. I notice Renee’s gaze lingers on him as he goes, and for the first time in my life, I feel the prick of jealousy.
I clench my fists, forcing the feeling down. I can’t let this marriage turn me into someone I don’t recognize. Someone petty and possessive. This is a business arrangement, not a love story. I need to remember that.
“Well,” Renee says, turning to me with a professional smile. “Where would you like to start?”
The truth is, I don’t even know. But when I think of my father’s face the night Sebastian asked for my hand, his relief and gratitude shining brighter than I’d seen in years, I know I’ll do whatever it takes.
“Let’s start with the dress,” I say, my voice steadier than I feel. If I’m going to pay the price for this marriage, I might as well look the part.