Page 207 of Modern Romance January 2025 1-4

‘Is that okay?’ Ashleigh breathed right beside her. ‘Would that be okay?’

‘Of course. Go pack a bag.’ Elodie nodded. ‘Be quick.’

Her father’s eyes narrowed, taking in her dress, her diamonds. ‘You’re really married?’

‘Yes.’

It really seemed to be taking him a while to process it. Elodie glanced just beyond him to where her mother stood a step back. She’d paled but remained silent as always in any kind of ‘situation’. Elodie willed her to saysomething, to speak up just for once. But she didn’t. Maybe she never would. Maybe she’d been browbeaten too long. That was when Elodie’s heart ached.

‘I’ll take care of her, Mum,’ she said softly.

She should have got Ashleigh away sooner.

‘What about the engagement party?’ Her father spoke before her mother could even open her mouth. ‘We have people coming—’

‘As I said, cancel it,’ Ramon ordered harshly. ‘If you’re relying oneitherof your daughters’ matrimonial statuses to boost your business, then you might want to revisit your business plan.’

But Elodie’s father had no shame. ‘It’s very kind of you to take Ashleigh on a holiday.’ The switch to sycophant was laughably swift. ‘Perhaps you and Elodie will soon visit us again and stay. It would be nice to get to know you.’

Nice?Elodie gaped. His volte-face was completely mortifying and yet so predictable. Always he turned to theman—especially if he had money.

But Ramon turned to her. ‘That’s entirely Elodie’s decision.’

Elodie met his gaze. It was her time to say something, anything—allthe things—but in the end there was little to say at all.

‘I don’t think I’ll be back,’ she said quietly.

There was a sharp silence.

Elodie wanted to leave, indeed she turned but then that stylish woman who’d been so quiet stepped towards Ramon.

‘You can’t let him have anything, can you?’

Ramon barely glanced her way. ‘She’s eighteen, Cristina, what were you thinking?’

‘That she’s fortunate to make such a good marriage so young.’

Ramon’s dismissive stance didn’t fool Elodie. She sensed that the anger she’d seen moments before was now rage.

‘Neither Ashleigh nor Jose Ramon ought to endure such extreme parental pressure,’ Ramon said harshly.

His aunt laughed. It was the bitterest thing Elodie had ever heard.

‘As if you’re doing this for him?’ Cristina scoffed. ‘Yougoteverything. Why shouldn’t he inherit something? Isn’t heowedthat?’

‘You think I got everything?’ Ramon shot back. ‘I inherited isolation and pressure. I sacrificed everything to prove myself worthy.’

Elodie moved closer and slid her hand into his.

‘Are your dividends and allowances not enough?’ he added. ‘I can make adjustments if you need, but Jose Ramon isowedhis liberty. Give him space to find a job for himself. A wife for himself. One he wants when he’s actuallyready.’

‘Like you have?’ his aunt questioned sarcastically.

‘Exactly,’ he snapped.

‘You’re every bit as selfish as your father,’ she spat. ‘A dog in the manger. You don’t want it but you don’t want anyone else to have it either. You haven’t been there inyears—’

‘Actually, Elodie and I are going there for our honeymoon.’ Ramon’s grip on Elodie’s fingers tightened. ‘And now we’ve seen you to offer our congratulations—or should that becommiserations—we can leave immediately.’

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