Troy adjusted on his seat. He needed more explanation of what I mean by marry someone else.
“Find a lady who will sign a contract with you. A marriage contract of six months, which you will pay in return. She goes around, parading as your wife. Mother will have no choice but to leave you alone.”
Troy sighed with relief. I just gave him a task. Getting a lady who would be discreet enough to marry Troy secretly may be difficult. Plus, I didn't think Troy would agree to do something so treacherous to Mother.
Troy agreed, “I know the perfect person for the job.”
“Who?” I asked, but my jaw dropped when it hits me.
The only lady I had seen Troy with in a long time was Camille. Would Troy sign this fake proximity with Cammille?
“Are we both thinking about the same person here?” I asked Troy. His demeanor told me I was right.
Mother would not let Troy's plan go as easily as he had hoped. She would fight Troy if he defiled her plans. Troy knew that as well. So, I hoped he braced himself for the outcome in a few months.
I had just learned that Camille's mother needed urgent surgery. What more could Troy leverage than Camille's love for her mother?
“Can you keep this a secret from Amelia? She shouldn't ever know that I co-planned something as mischievous as this.”
She shouldn't ever discover that I gave Henry advice that would frustrate her best friend's life.
Amelia wouldn’t forgive me if she found out. I stood up, wishing Troy good luck on his quest.
“I've got a wedding to plan,” I said, but Troy stopped me.
“Speaking of weddings,” he said and paused. “How did you get Mother to reinstate your engagement with Amelia?”
That was a secret I didn't want to share with anyone – not even my beloved brother.
“I played her in her game,” I replied as I dipped my hands into my pocket. “I gave her no choice but to consent.”
Troy asked no further questions. He had been a well-behaved brother for so long that it would be difficult to become rebellious. However, his next proximity to Camille might come when he broke away from Mother's grip. I'd love for that moment to arrive. I stood by the room Amelia was in. She didn’t see me because she was fixated on the patient's monitor. When she raised her head, she smiled, appearing to be glad. She went back to looking at her patient, scribbling hurriedly on a writing pad in her hand.
She took a few more minutes to attend to her patient before she came to me.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, trying not to giggle loudly. “I wasn't expecting to see you here!”
“I stopped by to check on my brother,” I replied. “He needed some emergency advice.”
“About the hospital?” Amelia frowned.
“God, No!” I paused. “Something else entirely.” My silence afterward suggested to Amelia that my discussion with Troy was quite personal.
“How did you–” Amelia stopped me halfway, but I knew what was on her mind.
“How did I talk my mother into agreeing with your parents?”
Amelia blinked. "Yes," she replied.
"That's a secret," I smiled. "I told you to trust me, and you did. That's all that matters."
“I'll see you tonight at my place?”
Amelia chuckled, confused. “What's it about tonight?”
“Celebrating our victory over our parents. We should share a glass of wine.”
"Okay," Amelia agreed, "seven p.m."