Page 53 of The Exception

When she put it that way… I nodded.

“Do Jasper or Sloan have a clause like this?”

“Just me.” But they’d never struggled with relationships and expressing their feelings like I had. My grandparents had probably assumed they’d both marry without the need for an additional incentive.

“They put you in charge for a reason. So maybe, this arrangement isn’t conventional or ordinary. But you’ve never been anything but extraordinary.”

My chest warmed from her compliment. I didn’t even know what to say. No one ever recognized me for what I did. It was always expectations and pressure. Not gratitude.

Finally, I settled on, “Thank you, Lil. I—” I cleared my throat. “That means a lot. Especially coming from you.”

She tilted her head. “What does that mean?”

I debated whether to answer, then said, “You know. Because I used to be your evil overlord.”

She laughed. “Evil overlord? Isn’t that a touch dramatic?”

“Jasper’s moniker for me.” I shrugged, trying to downplay my reaction to the fact that Lily hadn’t agreed that it was warranted. She hadn’t chimed in with some less-than-flattering nickname of her own. “And you know Jasper. He’s always had a flair for the dramatic.”

“Yes, but still—” She furrowed her brow. “I always found you to be tough but fair.”

“Thank you,” I said, grateful that had been her perception of me. It made me realize how much I valued her respect, and I could only hope it was the same for others in my employ.

“Look, Graham. I can appreciate having morals and integrity. Hell, I admire you for it. But life is full of difficult choices. It isn’t always black-and-white. There isn’t always one correct answer. Sometimes, we have to be willing to live in the gray.”

“Is that what this is?” I asked. “Living in the gray?” With me.

“I suppose so.”

“We can call off the wedding right now. I will invest as promised.”

“I know what this company means to you, and I’m not going to stand by and let Moretti ruin everything. We’re getting married.” She dipped her head. “If you still want to, that is.”

“I…” I swallowed hard, choking back emotion. She was willing to do this, even knowing everything. Perhapsbecauseshe knew everything. “Yes. But are you sure this is what you want?” I couldn’t resist saying it again. “I’m giving you an out.”

Her eyes blazed with something—anger. Stubbornness. “Maybe I don’t want an out.”

“Most people would,” I said. “Most people would take the money and run.” But she hadn’t. Not yet anyway.

“I’m not most people. And neither are you.” She gave my hand a squeeze.

She was right. She wasn’t like most people, and she definitely wasn’t like any of the women I’d been with in the past.

“That said,” she continued. “There can be no more secrets between us. I’m going into this with eyes wide open. But I expect that we’ll discuss anything that could affect the agreement.”

“No more secrets,” I vowed.

I wondered if I should tell her about hacking her blog, but technically speaking, it didn’t affect the agreement. I knew that was a flimsy excuse, that now would be the perfect time to tell her, but it was in the past. Before our agreement. Before…anything. What was done was done.

“You’re sure?” I asked, needing the confirmation.

Her eyes never left mine. “Yes.” She adjusted my boutonniere. “I know you, Graham. I see how hard you work. How much care and attention you put into every aspect of running the Huxley Grand. And I refuse to let a technicality stand in the way of your success.”

So maybe this wasn’t what my grandparents had envisioned for me, but marriage was a partnership. And that’s what I’d proposed to Liliana. I couldn’t offer love, but I could give her my loyalty.

CHAPTERTHIRTEEN

When I reached the terrace, bouquet in hand, I froze. Even though it was a small wedding, it was still unnerving to have all eyes on me when the harpist started playing the wedding march. It was just Jo, Pierce, the harpist, an officiant, a photographer, and Graham. But it still felt…intense.

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