Page 46 of Bound in Debt
Liam owes six million dollars. My trust is worth more than sixteen million. My wedding will only give us access to a fourth of that—four million dollars. We’ll still be short two million dollars.
Which means we won’t be able to pay the debt until I’m pregnant.
I close the door to the guest bathroom at the furthest end of the house, putting as much distance as possible between me and my mother. I collapse onto the edge of the tub just as the tears start to fall.
Maybe I can run away.
I’m sure there’s someone that can get me a fake ID. I can get documents to go to school somewhere else?—
My cell phone rings and I dig into my purse to fish it out. Dante’s name flashes on the display. There was no way I was going to let him stay in my contacts as “SAVIOR”.
I had forgotten he was listening in on our tea service. That’s the effect my mother has on me.
Anxiety, crippling distress, and fury.
Red-hot anger directed at someone I should love with my whole being.
My phone buzzes again, urging me to pick up and respond. I don’t have the time for a real conversation about what Dante heard, but maybe it’s a moot point. Maybe he wants to call this whole thing off and I’ll be free to come up with another plan.
“Hello?”
“You alright?”
I’m pathetically grateful that those are the first two words out of his mouth. That bit of empathy is the only kindness I’ve received since entering my childhood home this afternoon.
“No,” I answer honestly, more tears falling as a sob works its way up my throat. “I don’t want to do this.”
“I know, princess,” he croons. His low voice wraps around me like a gentle hug. I can feel my shoulders drop a bit, relaxing at the reassuring tone. “We’re gonna figure this out.”
“I don’t want children,” I sob, squeezing the phone. I wish my fingers were squeezing my mother’s neck instead. “This isn’t what I wanted?—”
“I know,” he repeats again, some of his softness disappearing, replaced with a slight edge. “Talk to your lawyer and get the prenup. We’re still going through with this.”
I shake my head because he’s just not getting it. This plan was doomed before we began. Naive little me thought I would receive the full value of my trust once I got married.
Instead, it’s being broken into pieces meant to reward me for sacrificing my future.
“You don’t understand.” I can’t help the slight tremor in my voice. “Just getting married won’t give us enough. My getting pregnant will. I’m not having children. Not now, not for this.”
“Princess—”
“I’m not having children,” I grit out through clenched teeth, rising to my feet and staring at my mascara-streaked face in the mirror. I glare at the broken girl I see, determined not to give up everything she wants as I fight to live my life. “If you need to leave me behind, go. Because the last thing I’m going to do is carry a Moretti kid in my womb and expect him to come out as anything other than an entitled piece of shit.”
Silence fills the air and I worry that I’ve pushed him too far in the midst of my freakout. Dante doesn’t respond—maybe I got lucky and the call dropped. Or maybe I pissed him off and he hung up on me. I glance down at my phone screen.
He hasn’t.
“Finish having tea with your mother,” he orders me calmly. “We’ll meet after you’re done.”
“I don’t want to meet.” There’s nothing more to say. He heard it all.
“We’re going to meet,” Dante growls. “This isn’t over just because you’re having a panic attack in the bathroom.”
“You don’t get it, do you?” I hiss. “I’m not having any?—”
“I heard you.”
Straightening my spine, I take a deep breath and square my shoulders. I can get through this. I’ve had to deal with two insufferable parents all my life. I’ve gone against my mother’s wishes, prioritizing my education despite her protests that college is a waste of time for someone of our status. Now I’m caught up in layers of alliances and maneuvers I never wanted to be part of and have no say in.
