Page 64 of Knotted

She could’ve said anything about me—call me a womanizer with a few depraved tastes, label me a commitment-phobe with a wicked one-hit-wonder streak.

Fine.

Whatever.

All’s fair in love and war.

But this isn’t just about me. It’s about Mark’s company. A family legacy I won’t let her destroy.

“This ends now,” I say, my voice cold and final. “I don’t care how you do it, Parker. Just take care of it. Whatever it takes.”

She holds my gaze, her expression hardening. “You’re sure about that?”

I hesitate for a split second. “Yes.” I handed Sydney an exclusive, and she used it to stab me in the back. So, fine—no more Mr. Exclusive. Our attorneys can start handing out lawsuits like fun-sized Snickers on Halloween.

But then I remember how much press our lawsuits usually attract and pull back. “No. Not whatever it takes. Just quiet it down.”

I’ll take care of Sydney Sun myself.

Parker nods, her jaw set with determination. “All right. We’ll handle it. But just so you know, we’re already putting out fires left and right,” she continues, her tone edged with frustration. “Every day is a whole new frontier of damage control, so please, tell me you won’t be adding more lighter fluid to the fire.”

I blow out a breath, knowing what’s coming. “I did happen to get married last week.”

Her eyes widen, and I casually wiggle my ring finger. An annoyed smirk tugs at her lips.

“What?” I ask, feigning innocence.

“Nothing. Just that you didn’t say a word.” She pats my belly. “Does someone have a bun in the oven?”

I wish. “Definitely not.”

“And that would’ve been useful information to help us get your legions of adoring fans off your back. Which coming from the guy who overshares every one-night stand, is weird.”

She’s right. It is weird.

The whole point of this sham marriage was to control the narrative, to mold the story exactly how we need it, and hit send. Publish it to the World Wide Web and beyond.

But instead of sticking to the plan, I buried it, locked it away.

Why?

Maybe it’s because I know how much Jules despises the spotlight, mostly because of me. And yet, I’m about to throw her straight into the center of it. It’s twisted—being both her villain and her husband.

But here’s the thing: no matter which role I’m playing, protecting her is non-negotiable. Anything less is not an option.

“We’ll get a press announcement out the door,” I say, already feeling the weight of the decision.

The phone rings, and I switch it to speaker. “What?” I snap, irritation seeping through my bones. The last thing I need today is more shit on my plate.

“Do you accept a collect call from Fiji?”

I blink, momentarily thrown as Parker and the team start to leave.

“Yes,” I answer, a grin tugging at the corners of my lips, brightening my mood instantly. “A collect call? From Fiji? Didn’t know that was still a thing,” I mutter.

“It is when Mark and I decide to go all ‘unplugged’ for our honeymoon.” Jess’s voice cuts in with that signature snark she’s honed over the years. “We had to have someone translate the headline with your picture. Even half a world away, my ‘keeping it low-key’ brother is making headlines.”

“And he got married,” Parker blurts out, her voice echoingthrough the room. I shoot her a warning glare, and she quickly ducks out, shutting the door behind her.

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