Page 88 of Bought By Three Men

“You can stop that now. You picked a homeless person to piss me off. You aren’t marrying her.” He slammed his fist down. “Benny is taking care of it.”

“How?” I was going to marry Ava, but I was curious about what game my father was playing.

“It was pretty simple when Benny and I put our heads together. Your gramps froze all of our assets because you had one month to get married. So I set up a non-profit organization called New Boston Inc.” He waved his hands as if that explained everything.

“So?” I stared at him.

“So? Really, you don’t see it.” He slid a folder over to me. “Everything was donated to New Boston Inc. Ha. All of our money was donated to an organization that I run.”

I shook my head. Leave it to him to find a way around my gramps will. I was doing my part. Had he just waited one more day, we would have our money, and I would have my bride. Not that what he did would make any difference, I would still marry Ava and have my share of the money. Wait.

The folder that he slid over to me was labeled New Boston Inc. I opened it. His name was on every piece of paper. Our funds were transferred to him as CEO of the non-profit.

“You control all of the money?” I knew the answer.

“Yes, now you understand. Marry this homeless whore, and you get nothing.” He grinned.

“You would take everything away from me because I am gonna marry a homeless woman. Why are you so ridiculous? If you gave her a chance, you would see that. You have been here all week. Have you not noticed how things are with her around? Her and her entire family are lovely. Shit, even her best friend Felix is a good dude.” I tossed the folder at him.

“I have seen her manipulate you. That whore has even gotten into Tristan’s head. You two don’t see her for who she really is. She killed her father, and yet you still want her,” my father chuckled. “Women are nothing but trouble. You should know more than anyone.”

“She isn’t mom or Ashley.” I walked over to him and grabbed his hand. “Ava isn’t them. Stop worrying, dad.”

It all made sense. He was using her being homeless as an excuse. It had nothing to do with that. He didn’t want me to end up like him, with a drug addict ex-wife and dead daughter. He still blamed himself for their demons and didn’t want me in the same boat.

“You are only marrying her for the money.” My father shook his head.

“I…”

“What?” Ava asked behind me.

I turned to see her standing in the doorway. Tears filled her eyes as she started to back up.

“Ava, let me explain.” I stepped toward her.

“Yes, please explain to her that the only reason you want to marry her is that your grandfather put in the will that you get married in thirty days, or you don’t get your inheritance.” My father smiled from cheek to cheek.

“Is that true? Is that why you rigged the auction? You set it up for me to be in that auction. Why me? You figured some homeless person would be easy to manipulate? That I would be so grateful that I wouldn’t care that I was just some pawn?” Ava cried.

“Stop backing away and listen to me!” I shouted.

My father snickered.

Ava turned and ran.

CHAPTER36

Ava (Day 6)

“Ava, get back here!”Ethan’s footsteps pounded behind me.

I weaved in and out of workers, trying to get far away from him. My brain was spinning. He was marrying me to get his inheritance. How romantic! It was bad enough Tristan married me to be a mother figure for his son. At least he was warming up to me. Then there was Adam, I had no clue why he bought me. Did anyone actually want to marry me?

Workers carried flowers and fabric down the hall. Others had trays of food and drinks. Ha. They were getting ready for my wedding, something I was so happy about a few minutes prior. Now, it was all fake. The whole thing was a facade.

A hand grabbed my neck and spun me around. I was face-to-face with Ethan. The vein in his forehead bulged.

“Let me go,” I demanded.

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