Page 117 of Vicious Arrangement
“Talk to him,” Katie says. “You’re having a child together, so lay the cards out now rather than later. See what happens.”
“You’re right,” I say, and settle back.
I’ll take their advice and be honest with Noah about my feelings and insecurities and see what happens.
Chapter Thirty-Two
NOAH
I standon the street with William Sanderson for a long time. He’s waiting for me to spit out whatever’s on my mind, and it’s a lot harder than I thought. Aria nudging me out the door just pushed this forward. I’d been planning on going to him. Just not… today.
And where we are.
“Out with it, young Noah,” he finally says.
I ball my hands into fists. “Shit, this is hard.”
“One word after the other.”
I nod. “It’s Aria. I’m in love with her for real, and nothing’s more important to me than her happiness.” Traffic trundles past, but I barely hear it. “So I plan to give her an out of our marriage so I can propose for real. And your company’s safe, even if she says no. Hell, I didn’t think a merger was good sense for either of us, economically, but I’m also happy to finance you for what you need, or partner with you in a silent, powerless way. I’ll do it in her name but it’s your company. I don’t want a say. If you want to?—”
“Noah, I never liked Oscar’s idea either. I thought it was odd, but cash flow is cash flow. So we can talk.” He holds out a hand, and I know what it means. I shake. “Now, my granddaughter…”
“Yeah… I just think setting her free is what I have to do. I know the only way she’ll trust I’m really in this for the right reasons is risking it all. My all, not yours. For her.”
“I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out you’ll be risking your grandfather’s legacy. Your inheritance.”
“I’ll still be rich.”
“But not like you could be, and you’d lose the company,” he points out.
“It’ll be worth it for Aria to know I love her, no matter what. No strings and no conditions.” I frown. “Love should be bold and without conditions.”
“Then who am I to get in your way? You have my blessing.” Then William leans in. “Oscar could be difficult. It was complicated, he felt he let his daughter down, let you down, didn’t see what his son-in-law was and he feared if he wasn’t hard on you there might be a chance you’d be like your father. Absolute poppycock.”
“Well…”
William smiles. “He was proud of you, and he’d be extremely proud right now, and so would your mother. Very proud of the man you’ve become.”
My chest tightens, and I swallow, my throat tight, too. “It means a lot to hear you say that.”
Katie and Asherleave the moment I return to the ward.
“I’ve got something to say,” Aria says.
Fear grips me. What if I’m too late? “So do I. Aria… I’m cancelling our marriage. Annulling it. Whatever the fuck it is. I’m ending it.”
She stares at me, stunned, stricken, and it hurts.
“You’re what?” she says.
“You heard me. I’m unmarrying you.”
“That isn’t a thing, Noah. You can divorce me or?—”
“Call it what you will. The union’s being dissolved.” She makes a tiny sound that breaks my heart, but I push on. “This marriage is over. You’re free to go back home and live your life. I’ll support the baby, obviously, but your grandfather’s company will be protected. No matter what, it’ll be protected.”
She stares at me, eyes swimming with tears.
