Page 113 of Mail Order Surprise (Hawthorne Billionaire 3)

“Parker and I will be the witnesses,” Victoria said.

We both stood frozen in place, staring at each other. The activity going on around us had not sunk in.

“Trey?” Victoria said softly from behind him.

“Mom?” Trey asked quietly without turning around to her. “What’s going on? I came here to marry the mail-order bride you bought for me.”

“Yes, that’s right. So, go get married,” Mia said, walking through the door, holding Sophie. “This little girl wants a daddy.”

“You?” Trey spun and looked at me wide-eyed.

“Me?” I asked in shock.

“Her?” Trey asked, turning to Parker.

“I can’t. Mia, you know I can’t,” I pleaded with Mia. “What is happening?”

“Kellan and Bond have taken care of everything, dear.” Victoria turned me to look at her. “He is forever out of your and Sophie’s lives.”

“But how?” I wiped at tears running down my face. “He told me he wouldn’t release her.”

“Mother, please explain what is happening,” Trey pleaded. “What are you all talking about?”

Victoria took us both by the hand and walked us to the judge.

“Trey,” Victoria said, looking him in the eyes, “it’s simple. She’s the bride I bought after I canceled the others, because you love her. The purchase has been completed.”

“How?” I asked, looking directly at Mia. “I didn’t sign up to be a mail-order bride.”

“I may have signed you up, but what of it?” Mia said, challenging me with a stare. “Can you honestly tell me you don’t love Trey and don’t want to stay in New York with all of us?”

“I don’t have the proper documents to stay in the United States,” I argued.

“You don’t need all of that as a mail-order bride,” Victoria explained, matter-of-factly. “This was the only way to do this quickly.”

“But, what about Jimmy? He’ll never give permission for Sophie...” I wiped again at tears spilling down my cheeks. “I have to go back.”

“Chloe, as Victoria already said, it’s all taken care of. Kellan took care of the legal end and Bond took care of Jimmy, and he will never bother you again.” Mia stood looking at me eye-to-eye. “Unless, of course, if someday she wants to know him. But that will be her choice, not his choice.”

“I don’t understand.” I looked around to each person in the room. “I helped you pick the bride and the rings.”

“Yes, that’s true, you helped me pick those rings out for Trey to marry someone else,” Victoria said. “It was then, watching you, that I knew.”

“Are these the rings you’re speaking of?” Parker held out two ring boxes.

“Oh my God, it’s the ring,” I cried out.

“Mom, you got the ring she picked?” Trey took both ring boxes.

“Victoria, how could you know? I said nothing.” I smiled at her. “He bought the other ring that day.”

“You picked those with love for Trey in your heart. I saw it then, and I still see it now.” Victoria smiled back. “It was a simple phone call to have it delivered.”

“I almost bought this ring that day, but I couldn’t, knowing it was the ring you loved,” Trey whispered to me. “I didn’t want to put it on someone else.”

Victoria stepped forward and placed our hands together, turned to the judge with a nod, then stepped away.

“Are we ready to do this?” The judge opened his book.

“I’m as ready as ever.” Trey smiled ear-to-ear. “I’m in love with you. You have to know that.”

“Trey, I never thought I’d ever hear you say those words,” I closed my eyes, “at least, not to me.”

“Look at me please, Chloe.” He cupped my face in his hands. “If you’ll let me, I’ll say it to you every day and I’ll spend every day showing you how you deserve to be treated and loved.”

“I love you.” We said at the same time.

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