Page 53 of Entwined
And then there was the prospect of marrying Vaughn. That was an idea I hadn’t allowed myself to fully entertain, but now, with him saying it aloud, it felt…intriguing. Dangerous, even.
“Maybe,” I said slowly, “it’s just your dick I don’t want to be without.”
He chuckled again, this time deeper, more amused. “That can be arranged.”
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help the smile pulling at my lips. “We could go in if you want,” he suggested, his voice dropping to that low, dangerous tone that always got to me.
I sighed dramatically. “I’m a bit tired. You wear me out, Vaughn.”
“That’s the plan,” he muttered, leaning in to kiss me again.
The decision was made. I had agreed to transfer the deed of the Ashworth mansion to Vaughn, a gesture that seemed natural, even right, given the legacy of the home. My attorneys had already begun drafting the paperwork, and I announced the transfer at dinner that evening, the family nodding along in polite approval.
The next day, as I sat in my office, organizing papers and trying to ignore the dull ache of second thoughts, Simone quietly slipped inside. Her presence was always unmistakable—graceful, yet somehow foreboding.
"Joey," she called softly, her voice hesitant.
I glanced up and offered a smile, though her expression instantly set me on edge. We’d been getting along better recently, but there was something in her eyes that told me this wasn’t going to be a casual chat.
"What's up?" I asked, setting my pen down, giving her my full attention.
Simone took a seat across from me, smoothing the fabric of her dress before she spoke. "Don't do it," she urged, her voice calm but filled with quiet intensity.
I frowned, confused. "Don’t do what?"
“The transfer. Keep the mansion in your name.” She leaned forward, her eyes locked onto mine. “My father wanted it that way for a reason.”
I sighed, leaning back in my chair. "It belongs to the Ashworth family, Simone. Not by marriage—by blood."
Her lips pressed into a thin line. "I love my brother, but I don’t trust him. And neither should you." She hesitated, as if weighing her next words carefully. "Don’t let his manipulations in bed blind you."
My hand tightened on the arm of the chair, a mixture of embarrassment and anger swelling in my chest. "Excuse me?" I asked, voice low, but the tension between us was palpable.
Simone's gaze never wavered. "Joey, please. Don’t insult my intelligence. I know my brother, and I’d like to think I know you. You two are sleeping together.”
I clenched my jaw, refusing to confirm it aloud, but the truth hung heavy in the air. "When did you know?" I finally asked, my voice barely a whisper.
“Almost immediately.” Simone folded her arms, her expression unreadable. “Vaughn hasn’t been with anyone else, and he seems to spend more time at the suite in The Diamond Square. It wasn’t hard to figure out. But I checked the expenses on the suite, not one order for room service or a massage.”
I gave a nervous laugh, rubbing the back of my neck. “It just happened,” I admitted, feeling sheepish.
Her eyes softened slightly. "Vaughn is used to getting his way, Joey. I saw how angry he was when my father chose you. In some ways, I think he did it to compete with my brother, to feel young again."
I flinched, her words stinging more than I expected. I placed a hand over my face, trying to block out the rush of guilt. "Colson loved me," I murmured.
Simone’s voice softened. “I know. You were a good wife. You cared for him when he was sick, and for that, I’ll always be thankful. If he had chosen anyone else, they might have been in it for the money or the status. You changed him.”
Her admission surprised me. She was raw, honest in a way I hadn’t seen from her before. This wasn’t the same woman who had once been so bitter, so mean-spirited.
"Why are you telling me this?" I asked, genuinely curious.
Simone exhaled loudly, her shoulders slumping as if the weight of her own words bore down on her. "Because Vaughn will ruin you. All the good inside you will turn to poison. Don’t give him control of the mansion, Joey."
I stared at her, unsure whether to be offended or thankful for her honesty. "He wants to marry me."
She shook her head slowly, sadness creeping into her eyes. "He wants to get back at you. I know my brother, Joey. He was so jealous of your marriage to my father."
I bit my lip, trying to process everything. "But... he’s had years to ask me. Even in college, it never happened. He never said anything until your father?—"
