Page 57 of Yours, Forever

"If you'll excuse us." My friend ushered his parents away. "We'll catch up later. Enjoy."

His parents followed Javier, too polite to make a fuss. They left us alone. Me, Eva, and my dad.

Eva got close to me, enough that it felt like we were a unit. Among the cold of confronting my dad, her presence brought a wave of warmth to my insides. I cloaked myself in it.

"Hola, Padre. I didn't know you planned to attend tonight. You're not usually for this fundraiser… or any others, for that matter."

I knew him well enough to recognize the tiny quirk in his eyebrow as the only show of irritation he would allow.

"I came hoping to see you." He turned to Eva, charm on. "Get a chance to meet your lovely wife."

"Thank you." She put a hand on my arm, the one between us. Another small gesture, showing me—and him—that she got me.

Gratefulness for her surged behind my breastbone. I wanted to show her with a million kisses.

Welp, couldn't do that now. Especially not when I had to keep sharp around my father's machinations.

"I heard you come from a small town on the West Coast," he said. "That you and Maximiliano met in Las Vegas?"

"I do, and we did." She looked at me with open, glittering eyes. "He changed my life."

I could kiss her.

Not. Now. Not with my dad around; not when I was this torn about it. Maybe never.

"Of course. An Errázuriz man can do that." He smiled, a pleasant and charismatic angle to his mouth. It took on a harsher tilt when his eyes switched to me. "The question is if she'll change yours."

"What are you implying?" I studied him and ground my teeth.

"I've heard you're investing heavily these days. A couple of wedding gifts to your wife, public-private projects with the local government in her town, and all manner of small local businesses. You're going all-in."

"I am all-in in my marriage, yes," I said.

He turned to Eva. "He's making you happy with all of these investments. It's why he's doing it, I believe."

The hidden venom in his statement trickled between the words. He thought I bought her loyalty.

Worst of all… he was right, in a way.

A dagger went through my chest.

"I think it actually speaks well of him that he wants to make me happy." Eva's tone was assertive. "Isn't that what marriage should be like? A promise to care about each other's happiness?"

"Among other things," my dad said.

"It's what I care about the most," Eva insisted. "Max has been amazing. I can't believe my luck that we met in Vegas. Now my whole town loves him. I think we'll change his life, too."

He arched an eyebrow at her, then settled his bright, smart, intense eyes on me. "I see why this was love at first sight. A fiery wife has its own charm."

"Careful." I clenched my jaw. "Be respectful. It's the bare minimum."

"Maybe she cares. Maybe you do. Is that going to be enough?"

I didn't know, and it scared me. Hence the five-million guarantee. Still, I craved forcareto be enough.

No way that would have been enough when we first met but now… perhaps. I hoped. I wished. Didn't dare to test it.

"It will be enough." Eva's voice didn't waver. "Because it's the promise we made to each other."