Page 101 of The Exception

This was certainly a change. Usually, I was the one critiquing my siblings, not the other way around. I wondered if Sloan’s shortness had something to do with pregnancy hormones, though I was smart enough to keep my mouth shut.

“I’ve been busy.” I set my respirator aside and headed outside into the fresh air.

After we’d finished removing the tiles on the second floor, Lily was working on prepping a room for wallpaper, and I’d been tasked with removing lead paint from the front hall. It was tedious but satisfying. And it gave me time to think. About Lily, about her dreams for this place, about what I’d do with the garden if I were given free rein.

“Doing what?” Jasper asked. “And what are you wearing?” He frowned. “Is this some sort of kinky honeymoon role-play for you and Lily?”

I narrowed my eyes into slits.

“Okay. Okay.” He held up his hands. “Forget I asked. But seriously, what are you wearing?”

“It’s a paint suit.” I removed the hood and ran a hand through my hair. “I’ve been stripping the lead paint off the ceiling in the main entry.”

Jasper and Sloan blinked at me.

“What?” I barked.

“I never thought I’d see the day that Graham fell in love,” Jasper said. “But it’s happened.”

“What does that have to do with paint stripping?”

Sloan smiled, resting a hand on her stomach. She’d gone back to London, the city’s skyline glittering in the background. “Everything.”

“How are you feeling?” I asked Sloan, eager for a change of subject. “How’s my future niece or nephew?”

“They’re great.” She beamed. “I’m finally less nauseous. And baby is doing well.”

“I’m glad,” I said, feeling as if a weight had been lifted. Even so, I knew I’d be on edge until the baby was safely delivered.

“And Jasper?” I turned to him. “How’s everything in LA? How are you?”

He froze as if surprised I’d asked, and I made a note to make more of an effort. To try to treat him as more of an equal. To communicate more, as Lily always suggested, and not just in the bedroom.

“It’s…fine.” He cleared his expression, reverting to something more neutral. “I can’t believe you’re not going stir-crazy. You’ve barely logged in to the company server.”

I lifted a shoulder. “I’m on my honeymoon.”

“Yeah, but…” He shook his head, his expression one of disbelief.

“I thought you’d be happy,” I said, confused.

“I am. I’m just surprised, that’s all,” Jasper said.

“Pleasantlysurprised,” Sloan chimed in. “Though the board has been grumbling about your absence.”

“What’s new?” I asked. If I were there, they’d claim I wasn’t a devoted husband. If I were gone, they’d whine that I didn’t care about the company. There was no winning. “Fortunately, they no longer get a say in our lives.”

“That’s actually what we wanted to talk to you about,” Sloan said, looking to Jasper. I wondered what was going on. What was I missing?

Maybe I should’ve checked in more frequently, but I was supposedly on my honeymoon. Okay, that was a lie. Now that I’d signed off, I was actually enjoying myself. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d actually taken a break. Especially not to do something solely for pleasure.

I think I’d always clung so tightly to the reins because I feared that if I stepped back, everything would fall apart. But I should’ve had faith in my employees, in my family. I hired the best and paid them handsomely, and I needed to trust them to do their jobs.

My siblings were more than capable of running the company themselves. Something I’d only recently admitted to myself, thanks to Lily. Perhaps it was time to stop viewing them as my baby brother and sister in need of my protection and start seeing them as the capable, intelligent adults they were.

Instead of demanding answers, I waited for Jasper to speak. He sighed. “There have been rumors. Questions about your relationship with Lily.”

I’d expected as much, but his tone gave me pause. “What kinds of rumors?”

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