Page 52 of His Scarlette Obsession
“The union was entered into under false pretenses, which would then bring us to Article Twenty-Three.”
Great, just fucking great.
Article Twenty-Three deals with coercion and fraud in marriage contracts.
Where are you going with this, old man?
“My client wishes to formally challenge the validity of this marriage on the grounds that Scarlette Qahiri was not given full disclosure of her rights as a Sharasan citizen.”
My jaw clenches when I finally understand what Arav is leading to.
“Specifically, her right to choose between eligible royal heirs—”
His words make me feel like a trap has started to close around me, and I’m forced to grate out an objection. “On the contrary, Chief Steward. Scarlette was informed of all relevant laws—”
“But only after the ceremony—” Arav’s rebuttal, even though mildly spoken, still has me gritting my teeth. “—which makes the entire union voidable under the Informed Consent Provision.”
“The ceremony was performed under American jurisdiction,” I fire back. “Sharasan law doesn’t apply retroactively to foreign soil.”
“But the consummation occurred on Sharasan territory,” Arav says smoothly, gesturing toward the jet around us. “This aircraft is registered as sovereign soil of the kingdom—”
The noose tightens another notch.
“—and so all acts performed herein fall under Sharasan jurisdiction.”
Vaughn actually says‘ahem’at this point, and I have to remind myself that he’s related to me by blood, just to keep me from hitting theEmergency Exitbutton so I can throw him out of the jet.
“Let it be said—”
Older brother,I remind myself stoically even as I have to fight against the urge to drive my fist in his face, which I begrudgingly admit is still boyishly handsome for someone his age.
Vaughn isstillmy older brother, his pompousness not withstanding. I must show respect—
“That I can furnish substantial evidence of prior emotional attachment between myself and Scarlette—”
Did he just fucking—
“—predating any contact with Your Highness by several years.”
To hell with respect!
If this bastard thinks I’m just going to let him say anything, absolutely anything aboutmywife—
“Please just stop this.”
It’s Scarlette’s first time to speak, and silence explodes in the room at the note of pain threading through her voice.
I turn to reach for her, only to find my wife looking at Vaughn with tear-filled eyes.
“I don’t even know why you’re doing this—”
“I was an ass, Scar.”
My lips tighten at the admission. It’s the only way to keep myself from pointing out that Vaughn might have used the wrong tense. As far as I’m concerned, he’s still an ass, and the most pompous one at that.
“I know it now. I was an ass all these years, and that’s why I want to make it up to you.”
“Then why not just apologize—”
