Page 31 of Papers Don't Lie

Of course, I have to support Esmeray financially, no matter what her needs are, and I’m surprised to see that there’s finally one thing that has to do with her happiness in the contract. And the only ways they’re letting me divorce in the future is if I’m broke or if I can’t offer them more than two nieces.

At least they agreed not to have a huge ceremony as they originally suggested.

“A lot of rules, huh?” I find myself saying.

Her mother laughs, flipping it away with her hand while her husband sits like a good puppy next to her. “Of course. Anything to make sure Esmeray is happy.”

I ignore her because I don’t believe the woman at all and sign the contract without thinking twice. If I do, I might reconsider this, and I can’t. I already showed up here, and there’s no way I’m disappointing Esmeray like that. It’s a huge risk I’m taking, and it’s already pushing my limits by far.

The lawyer takes the paper to her, and she blinks repeatedly at it, her hands shaking when she glances at my signature.

Come on, Ray. Do it.

Her eyes raise to meet mine, almost as if she’s asking for assurance. I give her a nod, hoping this little push is enough to make her go with this. She takes the pen from the man and signs with trembling hands.

“Now, if you’ll excuse us,” I say, and rise to my feet, buttoning my coat. “I want to go home with my wife.”

“How couldyou do something like this, Kai? What were you thinking?” she asks, gesturing with her hands as she paces in my room.Ourroom.

My first instinct is to ask when the “Mr. Graves” phase was over, but I have the feeling now is not the right time, so I let it slide.

I take off my coat, sitting on the chair in front of the bed with a sigh. “Did it work?”

She stops, giving me a look that could kill me. “Well, yes? But this isn’t about me! You saved me from my nightmare and got yourself into one. Why would you do that?”

“What do you mean I got myself a nightmare? Do you consider yourself one?” I ask, my voice turning thicker.

She hesitates, looking everywhere in the room but me. Esmeray takes a place on the bed, her shoulders dropping with defeat. “Yes, maybe you’ll meet some—”

Before she can finish her sentence, I’m on my feet. “Don’t talk about my wife that way.”

Esmeray flinches, standing up. She’s barely reaching my chin, her head tilted as she watches me straight in the eyes. I could laugh, but I’m almost sure she’d slap me the moment I do it.

“Do you hear how crazy you sound? We’re not even friends. Friends, Kai. How the hell am I supposed to be your wife? Why are you so relaxed when you just signed your life away?” She ends with a scream.

I put my finger on her lips, shushing her to prevent my dad from hearing what’s happening in here. He’s going to find out in two days when we come back from Los Angeles, but until then, this marriage has to be far away from his ears.

Esmeray gulps, hitting her legs on the edge of the bed.

“I never said we werefriends. We’ll be whatever you want us to be,” I tell her, watching the way her throat throbs. “Do what you will with that information.”

She groans, dropping on the bed on her back and glancing at the ceiling. “How are we even going to do this? What are you going to tell your family? Are you really going to sacrifice the chance of finding your great love by being married to me?”

My lips curl into a smile at her nonstop questionnaire. She’s right. I should be stressing my brains out after the crazy decision I made today, but I feel nothing else but calm. I can’t explain it, but I’m at peace knowing that I did the right thing. It’s what I always feel when I help someone. The tension in my body simply eases, no matter the outrageous way I make it happen.

I sit down next to her. “We’re going to tell my family whatever you want. The truth or a false story. I don’t care; it’s your choice. And about that great love—I never planned to get married, and I think the only girl I ever dated by all means was Vanessa in sixth grade.”

She murmurs something and curls her body into a ball, facing my direction. “What happened to her?”

“She broke up with me because she got her hair stuck in my braces.” I let out a small laugh at the memory, and it takes her a second before she joins me. Esmeray laughs so hard, and I’ve never felt so close to her like I do now.

“I’m sorry,” she says through cackles. “I just imagined you with braces.”

“You’d be surprised to find out I was the guy the girls had their eyes on,” I tell her, my mind going back to those days.

Esmeray nods. “I’m not surprised at all,” she murmurs when the laughter fades and sits up on the edge of the bed, staring me down with her green eyes. “You’re absolutely mad for doing this, you know?”

“I know.”

---