Page 35 of Bought By Three Men

“Rules are rules,” she shrugged.

It was the same saying I had heard my whole life. Break a rule and pay the consequences. Simple as that.

“Change the rules. I can’t marry her.” I ground my teeth. I couldn’t understand why she wouldn’t help me. Ethan could have Ava. I only told him I was gonna fuck her to piss him off. Then I wrote her a letter to anger him further.

“As your grandma said, rules are rules. Lucky for you, we may have a solution.” My grandpa entered the room.

“Grandpa.” I pulled him in for a hug. That’s when I noticed the woman behind him. She was a tiny, frail thing. She was barely five feet tall and had her red hair in a tight bun. This wasn’t the girl from the picture.

“Adam, I would like you to meet Judith Blackwell. She may be able to fix this.” He waved at the tiny girl.

“Pleasure.” I shook her hand. For someone so fragile looking, she had a mean grip.

“So you’re one of the schmucks that bought Ava.” She rolled her eyes at me.

“Not intentionally.” I released her hand. “How can you help?”

“Ava’s little sister is a tech genius. She rigged it so three people would buy her, and no one would buy me. Jealous Bitch.” Judith foamed at the mouth.

I stared at my grandparents. I wasn’t sure how that would help me.

“We have been looking into it since the glitch. So far, all we know is the system was set to allow all one million dollar bets on Ava Palmer.” Grandpa sat and pulled out a cigar.

“So if you have proof, why can’t you cancel the contract?” It didn’t make sense to me.

“The board ruled in favor of Ava and two of her purchasers. We have to treat it lightly if we are to pull the contract.” Grandpa lit his cigar.

“Plus, there is nothing linking Ava and her sister to the glitch.” My grandma lit another cigarette.

“I’m telling you it was them,” Judith whined. “I’m a witness. They did this to me.”

I didn’t like her. Maybe it was the way she complained or that her nose was too pointy. Maybe it was the way she was snitching. It didn’t help that she kept staring at me.

“Child, we can not hang two people based on your accusation.” My grandma blew smoke in her direction.

“Hang?” I grabbed my throat. I didn’t want someone to be killed. I just didn’t want to marry her.

“Yes. Rules are rules. Break them and pay the consequences. If she is killed, the contract is pulled.” My grandpa smiled. That was the side of my grandparents they usually kept hidden. The sadistic side that enjoyed torturing people.

“Then you will be free to marry someone else. You should have children by now,” my grandma said matter-of-factly.

Judith winked at me.

“What’s your problem with her?” I asked Judith. “You would willingly have her killed then marry her leftovers?”

“It’s personal. She went after me first. You don’t know what kind of person she is.” Judith huffed.

“So basically, I marry her, or she dies?” I asked my grandparents. Judith wasn’t worth any further conversation.

“Not exactly. We are still investigating. If she is found guilty, she will hang whether or not you marry her. If the investigation takes longer than five days, you will marry her this weekend. Rules are rules, and we don’t want you to suffer.” My grandma snuffed out her cigarette.

“Even if it means you have to marry a homeless. Still can’t believe Brian bought you one of them.” My grandpa rolled his eyes.

“Why did you guys allow the homeless to enter?” They had always despised the lower class.

“That’s not your concern.” My grandma stood. “Now, if you’ll excuse me. Judith, Corbin will walk you out. Try not to steal anything.”

Fuck. I should have never come here. Now, not only did I have to marry Ava, I have to make sure my grandparents didn’t kill her.

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