Page 53 of Married at Midnight

Getting nowhere with his son, Clark rounded on Ellie. “This is your fault. You put that idea into her head.”

“Dad—”

Ellie stiffened. “I did nothing of the sort. Have you met Viola? No one can put anything into that hard head of hers that she doesn’t want to be there. She’s as stubborn as they come.”

His father frowned, but Connor saw a light of understanding in his father’s eyes. The man wasn’t unaware of Viola’s true nature.

Ellie’s features softened. “Viola is Viola. Whether any of us like it or not, if she wants to get married, that’s exactly what she’ll do.”

Clark’s face hardened again. “Unacceptable. We have to do something.”

“What are you worried about, Dad? Because this has to be more than Viola getting her heart broken. Are you worried about her will?”

“I don’t want my mother’s money. I want her to be happy.”

Connor frowned. “What if getting married again makes her happy?”

“That’s impossible,” his father scoffed. “Don’t you know by now that no Grayson can be happy when we put our trust in someone else? It’s our destiny to be miserable and alone.”

“That’s not true,” Ellie interjected. More gently she said, “We’re all biologically inclined to be coupled for life.”

Clark rolled his eyes. “Good grief. You really believe that?”

“Yes.” Ellie stood her ground, her shoulders going back. “Haven’t you ever heard the phrase ‘Love makes the world go round’?”

“You’re ridiculous—”

“Dad,” Connor interrupted, “don’t talk to her that way. Ellie can believe whatever she wants to. As for staying away from Viola, that’s not going to happen. Ellie’s my wife.”

Some of the fire left his father’s eyes as he shook his head. “Has my life taught you nothing?”

Ellie looked at Connor with uncertainty in her eyes, as though waiting for him to either agree with his father or defend their marriage. With his next heartbeat he knew his answer. He’d never do anything to hurt the woman who’d agreed to help him save his grandmother. “Your life and your mistakes are yours and Mom’s. I deserve a chance to make my own, or not.”

“But your grandmother could be hurt because of your wife’s interference.”

“Viola’s an adult. She can make her own choices. And if Ellie wants to help Viola get married again at her own request, then I’ll support them both.”

“I’m trying to spare everyone eventual pain. Why won’t you listen to me?” his father asked with a sigh.

“Because pain is sometimes the risk a person takes in order to experience the greatest of joys,” Ellie said.

Clark set his jaw and turned to Connor. “You won’t help me stop this foolishness?”

“No, I won’t,” Connor replied.

“Then I can’t wait for the day I can say, ‘I told you so.’” A moment later Clark stomped back down the hallway and slammed the door shut.

They stood there for a long moment, letting the silence surround them until Ellie finally said, “What just happened?”

“You finally got to meet my dad,” Connor said with a self-deprecating laugh.

“That’s what you had to grow up with?” she asked, her voice strained.

He nodded.

“Then it’s no wonder why you don’t trust people with your heart. You’ve been told all your life that women will only hurt you.”

He wanted to argue, but her assumption was true. The women he’d trusted had only confirmed that truth—that no woman could ever love him fully. “Viola really wants to get married again?” he asked, changing the subject—a sign he wanted to steer the conversation from himself.