Page 172 of The Catalyst

“Oh, my god! Michael, are you okay?” I panic, grab my cloth napkin off the table, and hold it up to his face.

He nods as he takes the napkin from me and coughs into it. Once he calms down, he places it on the table before widening his eyes at his parents. “Heirs? What do you mean by heirs? You’re not seriously expecting us to…”

He trails off, and even I stare at him like he’s lost his mind. What exactly did he think was going to happen with this little arrangement?

“Expecting you to do what?” Nolan asks, looking at his son like he grew a third head. “Fuck your wife? Yes, we do, and children are a part of Bethany’s contract. If you don’t plan to consummate your marriage, that’s your prerogative, but it will end badly for Miss Mercer and Mr. O’Reilly.”

What? What do we have to do with it? I have no control over Michael. I don’t want to do it either, but this is the deal I made to free Nigel. If he ends up going back to jail because of how selfish Michael is, I don’t think I could ever forgive him.

“We all know this isn’t an arrangement built on love. Michael and I barely know each other. Outside of my obligation, I have no intention of having sex with him–” I start, but Mrs. Cora Gray is ever the prude.

“This is not an appropriate conversation for the dinner table!” she gasps, clutching her literal pearls at what I said, but I just scowl at her.

“Are youoffendedby sex? If that’s the case, your husband isn’t doing it right,” I sass, but Nolan seems to be getting a kick out of it, not embarrassed or insulted. “If we’re talking about heirs and marriage, I believe sex is a very safe subject. We’re not talking about the actual act but whether we actually want to do it together. I’m completely with Michael if he’s against it. I’m not aggrieved at all if he doesn’t want to have sex with me.” Turning my eyes to Michael, I ask the question. “Do youactuallywant to have sex with me?”

His cheeks turn pink, and he avoids my gaze, his jaw tightening. I bet he’s absolutely sickened by the concept.

“I will take that as a no, but I do have an alternative,” I say as I turn back to face the group. “What about IVF? A lot of people have it done. We wouldn’t have to make ourselves physically uncomfortable, and the results would be the same. Actually, since I’m in relatively good health, and so is Michael, it shouldn’t take more than one or two times for it to take–”

“No,” Nolan growls, his eyes narrowed to slits, jumping from me to Michael like he’s challenging us not to fight him.

He obviously doesn’t know me if he thinks I’ll stay silent.Though that would probably be in my best interest.

“You can’t just say no,” I bite back, and Nolan jumps up from his seat, anger across his face. “Actually, the contract stated specifically that we could choose amongst ourselves the manner of conception without involving outside parties and the rest of you are outside parties.”

He slams his hands onto the table, sending vibrations down the long table. “Do not push me, Miss Mercer. You will do what I say or there will be consequences. Do you understand?” he warns as he gets in my face, but I harden my expression and steel my spine.

I followed the advice given to me by Martin. He said his father would only go with what was laid out by the contract and I had that put in there just for Michael’s benefit.

I’ve had my suspicions that Michael wouldn’t be okay with consummating our marriage and I sure as hell am not going to fucking rape my future husband.

I have more respect for Michael than that.

However, we are at an impasse.

“I’m not scared of you…Mr. Gray,” I lie through my teeth. This man terrifies me, but I won’t bend my morals for him or anyone else.

Game on, asshole.

I may have signed that contract, but I will exercise every freedom I have that was outlined on those pages, including IVF. He may be able to force us into this marriage, but he can’t force us to get pregnant via intercourse.

I don’t have time to process what is happening before Nolan wraps his fingers around my arm and yanks me to my feet. It’s so sudden I stumble, and red-hot pain seers through my ankle.

“Let go of me,” I demand as I try to pull out of his grip, and Martin is quick to his feet.

“Dad, stop!” Suddenly, Martin yanks me out of his father’s grip, and I’m behind him. Martin acts as a human shield to whatever Nolan is about to do, and Martin knowsexactlywhat it is.

“Do not get in my way, boy,” Nolan hisses, and I can feel the rage coming from his usually calm and collected demeanor.

“It’s getting late,” Martin retorts. “I should get Beth home, and we can resume discussions tomorrow after everyone has gotten a good night’s sleep.” Without another word, Martin grabs my hand and rushes me out the door right beside us, not even stopping to look back.

CHAPTER 67

BETH

“Are you okay? Are you hurt?” Martin asks full of worry as he speeds down the long driveway leading away from the Gray mansion.

“I–I–I think so? I might have a small bruise,” I admit as I touch the sore spot on my arm where Nolan grabbed and yanked me out of my seat, nearly dragging me across the room. He didn’t get to do that last bit because Martin saved me. “Are you going to get in trouble for that?”

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