Page 1 of Don't You Dare Marry Me

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Nicola trembled.

Her entire body shook in the small way that no one would be able to see when she was moving around. She hadn’t managed to make it stop, but she had managed to keep it hidden so far with a plastered-on smile that felt like her face was going to break.

Warren was off talking to his mom, which left Nicola standing in the middle of a family that she had never felt comfortable with. She didn’t measure up. She didn’t meet their expectations. She wasn’t worthy of standing here with them. And yet somehow Warren had chosen to marry her—at least he had for a while.

He’d finally figured out that she wasn’t good enough for him. The ring buried deep inside her purse was a weight that she hadn’t ever considered before. It was stunning, but now she was required to give it back to him—the family heirloom. Which was the sole reason she was here. She should have stashed it in her sister’s rehabilitation room instead of bringing it with her because she had an idea that Warren was going to fight her tooth and nail on that check he’d promised her.

She was an outcast in this group, and she knew that. But she hadn’t wanted to do this one-on-one. She wanted at least someprotections from whatever shade Warren was going to throw in her direction. She’d been there a full five minutes so far, and no one had even noticed her yet. It seemed they were waiting for something, but Nicola had no clue what. Not that the family ever let her in on what was happening. She wasn’t one of them.

Straightening her back and fixing her smile, Nicola walked toward Warren and sidled on up next to him. “Hey,” she said.

He grimaced when he looked at her. That was definitely a grimace! She had proof of it this time. “Aunt Abagail is late.”

Oh. That’s what they’re waiting on. Now that Nicola knew that, she could prepare herself. Aunt Abagail was a force to be reckoned with. Nicola had only met her a handful of times before, but Warren had told her that, when planning the wedding, everything would have to be approved by Abagail since she’d be paying for it.

Not that any of that would be happening now, and she’d already been brushed aside, so it wasn’t like she was going to be able to ask him about the check when he was so distracted by the fact that his aunt wasn’t there yet.

Nicola resisted the urge to cross her arms, and she skimmed her hands down the short cocktail dress that Warren had bought her a few months ago. She’d have to sell it soon enough anyway so that she could have enough cash to live off. The material felt so soft against her skin, but once again, she felt as though she was an imposter.

Well, she was.

She didn’t belong here, and that had always been clear throughout her entire relationship with Warren. He liked her, and what she did for him, but she wasn’t one of them. And now, due to the breakup that he’d handed her a few days ago, she would never be a part of them.

“I’m tired of waiting,” Warren muttered to his mother.

Estelle flicked her gaze to Nicola and frowned at her. “I can’t control what Aunt Abagail does. I’ve never been able to.”

“If Dad were here…” Warren trailed off.

Nicola had heard that threat from him many times before. It was hard to lose a parent. That was what had bonded them together at first, but Warren had never seemed to move on from the fact that his dad had left them at the mercy of his aunt. Nicola, however, had no one but her sister and her aunt, and they wouldn’t break that bond no matter what. They were their own little family.

“He’s not here,” Estelle hissed. “And don’t piss Abagail off. That’s the last thing we want.”

Well, that was a warning if Nicola had ever heard one. She’d clearly missed something going on. Was Abagail going to show up and give them all a dressing down? Maybe she’d tell Warren he was a dumb idiot for dumping her. Nicola had to hold back her snort at that one. Abagail had never liked her. There was no way she’d be there to do that.

“What are you even doing here?” Warren turned on her, all that pent-up anxiety and rage that he’d had because of Abagail’s late arrival now solely focused on her. When they were dating, Nicola had just rolled over and taken it. She’d let him move through the emotions instead of correcting him, but she didn’t have to do that now.

“You told me to come here,” Nicola stated firmly, not bothering to take a step back even though she really wanted to. “To get that check.”

Warren’s lip pulled upward into a sneer. “Like I’d give you any more money.”

“Warren…” Nicola’s jaw dropped. As much as she had expected this to happen, she hoped desperately that the man she’d fallen in love with was still in there somewhere. Wasn’t he?

“Where’s the ring, Nicola?”

Nicola locked her mouth shut. She wasn’t going to give him the ring back if she didn’t get the cash. Not tonight anyway. She’d quit everything for him. She’d moved out of her apartment for him. She’d put everything in her life in his hands. And she was paying the price for that. The least he could do was give her the cash he’d promised her so she could continue to pay her sister’s medical bills.

“Where’s the check,Warren?” If he was going to give her this attitude, then she’d dole it right back. There was no reason she had to play nice anymore. Her heart stung at the prospect of who they were together now, but she couldn’t let that affect her. She needed the money to pay the credit collectors.

“Nuh-uh-uh.” He turned on her fully now, towering over her. Anger crossed his features. “You don’t get anything else from me. I want the ring back.”

“Rings are considered a gift. It’d be my choice whether or not to give it back to you. We had this conversation already. If you want it back, you’re going to have to buy it from me.” Nicola gripped the strap of her purse tighter and squared her shoulders. She wasn’t going to back down. “Fifty thousand dollars, Warren. That’s what we agreed on. And that’s chump change for you.”

Warren snorted. “You little b?—”

“Aunt Abagail!” Estelle’s voice rose above Warren’s curse. He immediately straightened and his entire face changed. He went from antagonistic and nearly demonic to genteel and serene. He held out his arms to Abagail, as if expecting a hug, but she just stared at him.

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