Page 99 of The Unwilling Bride
I’m uncomfortable with this, but there’s no turning back now.
James is only playing a role. Very convincingly, but it’s still a role, nevertheless.
No matter how much I wish that he meant what he said, he didn’t.
26
James
"I meant what I told your sister.” I look away from the windshield long enough to take in her face.
"I don’t understand why you’d say that. After you’d made it clear this marriage is transactional; nothing more." She looks forward.
Her expression is remote. Her body language makes it clear she’s unhappy with the situation.
"It’s still a marriage." I lower my voice. "You’re going to be my wife. And while emotions don’t come into play, I plan to live up to all my promises for the duration of the marriage.”
It’s understandable that she’s confused by what I told her sister. I hadn’t planned to say anything at all about feelings. But facing her sister and having met her niece, I have more understanding about her background.
"After what Briar’s been through, I’d be completely insensitive if I didn’t reassure her that our marriage means something.”
"And does it…mean something?" She turns to me.
I keep my attention on the road and choose my words carefully. "Ourmeeting all those years ago meant something to me. I may not have explained myself fully when I refused to let anything develop between us, but I never forgot you."
She stills. I sense her surprise. She wasn’t expecting that. But I want her to understand that I didn’t propose this arrangement without serious thought.
"When Margot made it clear I needed to get married to claim my inheritance, I was…resistant. Marriage isn't…wasn't in my plans."
I tighten my jaw.
"But the trust is ironclad. No marriage, no inheritance. No inheritance, no restaurant expansion. I was backed into a corner. Needing something I fundamentally didn't want, with no viable alternative in sight."
I shoot her another quick glance.
"Then the video happened. The investors threatened to pull out. I realized I had to flip the narrative. By then, I knew you wanted to become head chef more than anything."
I sense her shift in her seat.
"Asking you to marry me solves both our problems. I get the marriage certificate Margot's lawyers require. My investors are happy. You get the money to help your family, and you get to achieve your ambition sooner than would have been possible. Besides, it had to be you.”
"Because I was the woman in the video?”
“That too. But also… Because I can’t imagine anyone else in the role of my fake wife. It seemed safer to ask you to marry me than bring someone totally unknown into the situation.”
She shoots me a weird glance.
"What?" I growl.
"Am I supposed to be grateful that I was the only one you could see as your fake wife?" Her voice is stunned.
"Maybe?" I say only half-jokingly.
"Seriously?" She scowls at me.
"Hey, I was only kidding. Not."
"Argh, you’re infuriating."
