Page 94 of Just My Fake Husband

Mom sighs. “I do apologize but you know how I’ve been trying to make some changes in my life. I believe in openness and honesty but the last thing I wanted to do was have my husband go and ruin a good thing. And you two, Gabriel and River, are a good thing. I wasn’t intending to get you in trouble or foil your plans, it’s just that . . .” She lifts a shoulder. “Your father is a different person now and part of me wondered if he could handle it.”

“Mom, what happened exactly?” Gabriel shifts in his stance.

Yes, my love.I squeeze his hand. I’m feeling antsy about all of this, too.

“Last night at dinner, when your father and I danced around the subject of you taking over the company and how lovely it is that you found River even though maybe things got started off in an unconventional, maybe slightly dishonest way . . .”

“I thought you just meant that they rushed into it like complete idiots,” Thomas said.

“Oh.” Celine’s eyes grow wide. “Oh! Milo said some things this morning, and then when you texted me, Thomas, saying you were heading to Longdale to sort out some issues with Gabriel. I assumed—”

“It’s my fault, Mom. Not yours.” Milo sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. “There were some . . . extenuating circumstances that I was involved in—”

“Will you please tell us what happened, Milo?” Henry says. We all gasp. For Henry to be so curious about it!

“In due time, brother. In due time.” Again, Milo can’t contain his smile. It’s reverberating throughout his entire being.

“It doesn’t matter who said what.” Gabriel’s voice is loud and clear as he looks at everyone in turn. “Yes. We had anarrangement.” He flashes me a look of agony, but I offer a brave smile and a nod.

“A . . . a,” he tries.

“A marriage of convenience, if you will,” I offer.

“I got stuck on the idea that getting married and settling down would convince Dad I was trustworthy enough to get my job back and eventually take over the company. River needed some compensation for her sister’s care and so . . .” He shrugs. “We hatched a plan.”

“But you didn’tplanon falling in love.” Celine’s eyes shine bright, and she whisks away a tear. “Sorry to announce your business!”

“Better it came from you than from him.” I point to Thomas. Thomas is on my bad list, no matter what changes people allude to.

Celine’s gaze focuses on the others. “Maybe they did make a rash decision, but it looks like it’s turning out well.”

Thomas gives a colorless laugh. “In any case, Gabriel, your dishonesty forces my hand.” He shrugs. “I have no choice but to terminate you. For good.”

“I was already terminated, remember?” Now Gabriel’s voice is soft. He does love his dad. “And it’s okay. I’ve made a lot of mistakes these past couple of months, but the silver lining is I found River. And she’s worth all of it. And more.”

I tighten my grip on his hand once again, marveling at the way things are turning out after all these years of loving this man and trying so hard not to.

“I’m okay with being finished at Foundations Financial,” Gabriel says. “I’ve got a different focus now. Different priorities.”

“But you’re the only one who could ever do it, Gabriel.” Oliver’s voice is insistent. I think I know what he means. He’s the only one who could have managed to work for their father.Without Gabriel tied to Thomas Tate, would anyone be? Despite his changes, did he push too far this time?

Thomas’s expression is steely. He doesn’t say another word, just looks over his sons and the wreckage of the years, and leaves.

Chapter 33

Gabriel

“There’s a balloon in my chest,” I say to River as I secure my seatbelt. I can see normally—hear normally. My Bronco’s interior smells the same. The grip of the steering wheel is like it was earlier today when I drove here. Even the beginnings of fall colors on the mountain seem to be the same as they were before.

So then why do I feel like my whole life is different?

“Uh. Do you have a heart condition that I don’t know about? Did you have an angioplasty? That’s something you should have told me before I married you.”

I bump out a laugh. “River. No.” Air moves in and out of my chest so unencumbered. “I just feel—”

“Different? Lighter? I know. Me, too.”

“My days at Foundation are over. My relationship with my dad is—”

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