Page 98 of Fierce Love
In previous interactions, I’ve found her certainty to be hard to handle. Her tone and proclamations have put me on my back foot, unsure of where to step next. But I can’t let her keep doing that to me. Maybe she’s out of my life and out of Nathaniel’s life, but I can guarantee she’ll still be a crucial part of Bellerive society. That’s just how the island works.
“Wearea match,” I say. “Despite the forced time and distance, we’re just as in love as we were as teenagers. We’re going to getmarried and have kids, kids you’ll probably never meet except in passing.”
“You threw him away, andIget punished.”
“You set me up. Why can’t you just admit that you set me up?”
“Your aunt was guilty, did you know that? Mickie and Niall weren’t, but your aunt was. She was laundering money through the deli she worked at. I got her off. Made sure she didn’t pay for her crimes. And thisbetrayalis how I’m repaid.”
I have no idea if Celia is lying. My aunt kept all those documents, and there was nothing in there that would lead me to believe Celia is telling the truth right now. We certainly never had any extra money from these supposed illegal acts, so my gut says she’s lying—one last-ditch attempt to hold something over my head. Or it’s possible that Mickie was the one laundering through the deli and they’re all lying to me. Maybe my aunt didn’t know. Either way, I’m not letting her tarnish the good memories I have.
“The least you could do is speak to Nathaniel. Make him see reason. Tell him that I gave you and Kinsley—even your aunt—a good life.”
“I won’t tell Nathaniel how to feel about anything, actually,” I say, straightening. “He’s innocent in all of this. He can feel however he feels, and I’ll support him completely.”
“You’re only saying that because he still wants you.”
“I’m not. But I don’t expect you to understand what it means to love someone like that—to want what’s best for them, even when it’s not what’s best for you.”
“You two will never make it long-term. Bellerive society might accept you while you’re on television, but the minute that shine wears off, you’ll just be another poor Davis girl.”
“You can think what you like, Celia. The only person who needs to accept me is Nate. Took me a while, but I understand that now. Nate doesn’t need Bellerive society to accept me.”Talking to Sienna also reminded me how much people can change—both me and Bellerive’s upper class. Seeing Kinsley thrive has taught me that this island, these people, don’t have to represent what they once did. I need to fit into Nate’s life, not Bellerive’s harsh social classes. That’s the important part, and I’m finally sure I can.
Celia gives me a grimace, but she doesn’t contradict me.
“I just came to tell you that your hold on me is done. Your hold on Nathaniel is done. We’re going to live our best lives together, without you, and I hope that watching it makes you realize how wrong you were then and how wrong you are now.” I stare her down. “Because if you’re not careful, you’ll alienateallyour children, and you’ll die in that hospital you were just in, alone.”
Then I turn on my heel and I leave before she can dismiss me. We don’t need her approval for anything anymore. For the first time since I was a scared kid standing in her living room, I finally feel like I’m in charge of my life again.
Chapter Forty-Six
Hollyn
I’ve never been to a wedding of one of Bellerive’s elite before. Nate’s prom was the closest I came to that sort of luxury when we were dating in high school.
To think, since Posey and I are trying to get our own company started, with tiers of service for different economic brackets, she’s scaledbackher wedding costs, and it’s still this luxurious.
Securing a building, paying for branding, and being mindful of money is at the top of both of our minds with our new company. While I do have some funds from the TV show that I can use, Bellerive is an expensive country to live in and to source design materials. I’m also still reluctant to let Nate pay for anything that has to do with Kinsley, so sometimes my money feels tighter than it could if I wasn’t so stubborn.
Even scaled back, there are a lot of people milling around the hotel’s estate when we arrive. Rather than getting married at the royal palace, Posey’s mom, who used to be the king’s secretary,called in some favors, and Posey and Brent are getting married at the oceanfront resort that’s been a celebrity hotspot the last few years. Posey said she wanted to get married by the ocean because it reminded her of how she and Brent met in the first place.
“This is nice,” Gage says as he and Ember arrive outside the front of the huge white-and-black stucco hotel, a valet whisking their vehicle off behind ours.
“Nice?” Ember snorts. “A couple of years ago, I would have called thisinsanelyluxurious.”
“But not anymore?” Gage asks, and I can hear the hint of teasing in his voice. My favorite part of hanging around with him and Ember has become how clearly and dearly he loves her. He reminds me so much of Nate in those moments that I sometimes forget how much of a hellion he was as a little kid.
“No, it’s still insanely luxurious,” Ember says. “I’ve just gotten a bit more used to this ridiculous wealth.”
“I don’t know if you can ever really get used to it when you’re coming into it from the outside,” I say.
“I guess I’ll find out,” she says. “Got a few more years to see what I think.” Now her tone is teasing.
“Or,” Gage says, tugging her into his side, “the rest of your life. Remember, you’re mine forever. Even the Bellerive courts agreed.” He fiddles with the ring on her finger as a reminder, and she leans into him, placing a hand on his chest.
Nate seems fixated on her ring for a minute, and when I nudge him, he gives me a little smile. “Smug marrieds,” he says quietly.
We’ve been watching old movies in the downtime we’ve had since filming ended.Bridget Jonesamused him a lot, whereas I lovedLove Letters from Spainwith Wyatt Burgess and Ellie Cooper—gave me all the angsty longing now that I’m not experiencing it myself.
