Page 111 of Necessary Cruelty

Along with all the money, of course.

I used to take it personally until I saw her dealing with Emma in pretty much the same way. If she treats her own biological kid like little more than a fashionable accessory, what chance did I have?

My father’s words echo in my head. You are a Cortland.

I don’t give a fuck about 99% of the people in this town. But I also don’t want to set my little sister up for ridicule. Especially when she’s in those tender middle school years where everything is oh my God, so embarrassing!

The thought of some big to-do in front of the entire town, only to get a quickie divorce a year later, just seems tortuous. An actual wedding ceremony means inviting a whole bunch of people who won’t be the least little bit happy to see me walking down the aisle.

Like sharks scenting blood in the water.

My asshole friends are waiting for me with grins on their faces when I get to the cafeteria at lunch. Cal is holding a snack cake from the vending machines with an unlit candle stuck into the center of it. Elliot is holding up a sad sheet of notebook paper with CONGRATULATIONS? written on it in block letters.

I glare at Iain. “You fuck.”

He just shrugs, not looking the least bit repentant. “You know I don’t keep secrets.”

Elliot claps me on the back hard enough that I have to catch myself on the edge of the table as I sit down. “Never thought I’d see the day.”

“You haven’t seen shit,” I reply, slouching in the chair. “The ceremony is in a few weeks. I’m sure Giselle will have someone get in touch about your matching cummerbunds.”

“This is actually happening.” Cal is incredulous. He runs through girls like there’s a Guinness record for screwing he hopes to beat before he dies. If it was a choice between tying himself down to only one for a year and the poorhouse, Cal would be drowning in pussy while living under a freeway overpass. “I’ll admit I got a laugh when Iain first told us, but I didn’t actually think you were serious.”

“I’m serious about keeping my inheritance.”

But the words ring hollow even to my ears. In the beginning, this was entirely about keeping the Cortland fortune where it belongs. I hated that it was Zaya whom I had to convince to help me, hated her more than I normally did, even though I knew it wasn’t her fault that she was the only girl from a Founding family of legal age.

I want to believe that only the money matters, but still find my gaze scanning the cafeteria for her face. I’m already thinking about when she’ll want to visit her grandfather at the care home. Whether I should pick out a car for her so she isn’t tempted to take the bus anywhere again, or if it would make her happier to go the dealership herself and pick something out.

I find myself wanting to do things just to make her happy, not because I’m getting anything out of her in return.

“Have you seen the rock on Zaya’s finger yet?” Iain asked the other two, voice mild. “It’s a Cortland family heirloom.”

If looks could do damage, Iain would be bleeding on the floor. He might still be later when I get my hands on him.

Cal let out a low whistle. “You gave Zaya Milbourne Gram Gram’s ring. Who are you, and what the fuck have you done with Vin?”

“Piss off.”

“You haven’t even heard the best part,” Iain drawls. “He only has a year to—”

I kick Iain hard enough in the shin that I think the bone might have broken my toe. He doesn’t react to the pain, but stops talking long enough for me to divert us to something else.

“I only have to last a year. Zaya walks away with money for college, and I get to keep my inheritance.” My annoyed gaze tracks around the table. “Is there anything else you assholes need to know, or can I tell my stepmother to add you to the headcount?”

“Count me in for a plus one,” Cal says.

I resist the urge to roll my eyes. “Who?”

“Who cares?”

That isn’t even worthy of a response. I look at Elliot. “You in?”

“Of course,” he replies immediately. “I’ll even stop making fun of you, if just so Zaya doesn’t overhear and think she’s the one I’m laughing at.”

“You won’t be laughing when I break your jaw.”

He guffaws, if just to prove a point. “Hell yes, I will.”

One of these jerks will be my best man. If that isn’t a sign this marriage is doomed, nothing is.

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