Page 34 of Treasured By 3

“And you told him about me getting married. I didn’t tell him for a reason. I hesitated to tellyou. In case you forgot, it was my fiancés who reached out to you,” I remind her. “Your husband isn’t welcome at my wedding. He’s not getting an invitation and you’re not getting a plus one.”

“Well ...” she adjusts. “It’s not a real wedding.”

Josefine and Vanya both gape at my mother. She shrugs, but shrinks a little. “It’s not. One wedding is real, and the rest is for show. You can’t marry three men. It’s impossible and there’s no way around that. One woman. One man.”

I grit my teeth. “This is why you’re only invited to the reception.”

Her eyes water. “What!”

“I refuse to have anyone at the ceremony who doesn’t supportall threeof my husbands and me. They tried to tell me you’d changed, that you’d accept this, that you could see me as more than a greedy slut, but they were wrong.”

A tear runs down my mother’s cheek, but it does nothing to me. She huffs and shakes her head. “You can’t marry three men! It’s illegal! You marry one, then the other two are just ... mistresses!”

“Tina.” Josefine puts a hand to her chest. “You can’t possibly think that.”

“I want to be proud of being your mother, but I’m not. Maybe if I would have left your father, you wouldn’t have these kinds of issues,” my mother says. “Don’t worry. I won’t ruin your happy day by being there.”

“Good,” I say.

She pauses, looks at me with obvious hurt, and I shrug. “I will not change everything in my life to satisfy you. I don’t need your validation to be happy. I’ve lived without you since I was sixteen. Going back to no-contact won’t be hard.”

She storms off before we can even get our drinks. I take a few slow breaths. Hunter wouldn’t be proud of me, Chase wouldn’t either. That’s fine. I can be the brat right now because it means my grooms won’t have to deal with being looked down upon. I can shoulder my parents’ judgment.

“Valerie,” Josefine says while taking my hand. “I’m proud of you.”

I force my lips into a firm line.

“It’s no wonder you’re so at home in the mansion. You know how to make things happen and how to control meetings,” Vanya whispers.

I swallow and take the menu. “So, I’m assuming you’re doing mother and groom dances?”

“Probably not,” Vanya says.

“There’s no reason to set aside special time for that.” Josefine shrugs. “Especially if you’re not doing something like that. I’ll dance with Lief whenever he pleases.”

Vanya nods.

“Are either of you ... do you have reservations about me marrying all the guys?” I ask without meeting their eyes.

“No, Valerie. I see how Lief is with you. His happiness is all that matters. He’s never smiled so much in his life,” Josefine says.

“I worried about you not wanting a life in their business, but I never questioned your choice to be with my sons or Lief. You four are already a family. Anyone who’s met you, anyone who’s seen you all together, knows it,” Vanya agrees.

“We’re on your side, sweetheart. I’m excited to call you my daughter soon,” Josefine insists.

She’sexcitedto have me as a daughter. That’s worth more than being connected to someone out of obligation. And that’s what I’m going to hold onto.

THIRTEEN

Hunter

Out of all thepreparation for the wedding over the last five weeks, I thought the bachelor party would be my favorite part. However, as I get ready, I notice Valerie is just sitting in the tub. No bubbles, no candles, just sitting there, staring at the ceiling with the lights low.

“Aren’t you having your bachelorette party tonight?”

“Yeah,” she murmurs.

She’s been a little off for the last few weeks, but I assumed it was the stress of wedding planning and working while also taking care of us. Now, I don’t know. I sit on the floor beside her and take her hand, kissing just above the ring I got her. “You don’t sound very excited.”

---