Page 83 of The Husband Contract
“Do you think she was a mole? Working for someone on the board?” Jack asks, a thoughtful expression on his face. “Maybe this was all part of an intricate plot.”
I consider his words and then think about my interactions with Willow. “I don’t think so, but what do I know? Do I think she deliberately seduced Sergio to break his heart, steal his money, and have him resign from the board? I don’t know. I don’t want to believe it.”
“Do you think she’s capable of that?” he presses on. “You know her now. She’s not just a name on a piece of paper, anymore.”
I lean back in the chair and close my eyes. I think about the Willow I’ve come to know—the sweet, shy, fun girl. The one huffing and puffing while hiking. The one scared to spend money while gambling. The one who kissed me so eagerly, touched me so softly. The one who told me she loved me. The one who looked absolutely devastated when I told her I didn’t love her. My eyes fly open, and I look at Jack. “That’s the problem. I don’t understand how the woman I know could have done all of these things.”
Jack nods as if he expected that answer. “So what are you going to do? What’s your end goal with her? I don’t understand why you even married her.”
At one time, maybe I had that answer. Now, I’m not so sure. The fire that made me want to bring her down is all but gone.
“When I first learned about her, I thought I’d just try and ruin her life. I went to Whispering Haven, got to know her, and one thing led to another. We went to Vegas, and I just thought, ‘Let me marry this woman.’What better way to infiltrate her life than by being her husband?”
I got so much more than I bargained for.
“And you did that because you wanted to ruin her life?” Jack prods. “Help me understand the end goal.”
I nod slowly, even though now I’m not so sure I’d ever really thought the plan through properly. “I told her I wanted to ruin her life, her friends’ lives, and her friends’ families lives if she didn’t do what I told her. And that was the thought in my mind when I loosely came up with the plan.”
I’m starting to understand why I’m the villain in her story. The problem is that I’m far more affected by my role than I ever thought Iwould be.
“And what have you told her to do as part of this marriage contract?”
“Nothing.” I shrug. “I had plans. I wanted to humiliate her. I wanted to break her. I wanted to make her feel like nothing.”
“And what happened to those plans?”
I heard her laugh, tasted her lips, basked in her warmth. I fell for the way she made me feel about myself and about her. The way she listened to me. The way she touched me. She’s wormed her way into my brain.
“I haven’t been able to follow through on anything yet,” I admit with a frown. “I’m conflicted, Jack. I know she broke my brother. I know she’s the one responsible for me possibly losing my company, and yet I just can’t seem to be vindictive. I know I have it in my nature, but I can’t shoot the shot. And I have her in my crosshairs. All I have to do is take the shot.”
“You care for her,” he says, surprise and wonder in his tone. His face looks as incredulous as I feel.
“Don’t say that.” I sneer in disgust. “I’m not that weak. I just feel sorry for her as all. She’s had a hard life. It’s probably why she fell into this life of crime. I understand it, but I don’t approve it.”
Jack smirks. “Can I meet her?”
“If you want. She’s not even talking to me. You’ve met her before, before I even knew who she was. Is there a reason you want to meet her again?”
“I’d like to see how she’s taking it.” He takes a sip of his whiskey. “Evaluate how I feel about her.”
“She’s not even talking to me, Jack. I doubt she’ll talk to you.”
“I’d still like to be officially introduced to your wife.”
Wife.Why does that title have satisfaction thrummingthrough my veins. She’s not a trophy to show off to my buddy, and yet that’s exactly what I want to do.
“Fine. Come on.” We stand and head down the corridor to Willow’s room. I knock and there’s no response. I’m not surprised. It would have surprised me more if she would have called me into the room. I open the door and step through.
Curled up on the loveseat, reading a book, she’s appears to be cozy and right at home. This is the Willow that drew me in. The warmth that I feel upon seeing her pleases me more than I’d like to admit. She darts her gaze my way, eyes flickering with surprise at first, and then drops them to her lap.
“Willow, Jack’s here. My best friend. He wanted to say hello.”
She looks up again, this time her eyes dragging over Jack, and frowns.
He steps forward, hand raised, and he offers her a small wave. “Hi, Willow. It’s good to see you.”
I think she’s going to ignore him too, but she offers him a wry smile. “I would lie and say it’s nice to see you as well, but I don’t much feel like it.”
