Page 33 of Vow to Hate You

“I know,” I muttered, twisting the new ring on my finger. “It doesn’t feel real.”

“It’s very real,” he said firmly. “The contracts are on my desk, already signed.”

I barely refrained from rolling my eyes. Both mine and Talie’s father were far from happy when we’d told them we wanted to get married. Jude and Christian did not get along. They never had. Like me and Talie, they grew up in the same friend circle, but their competitive natures and egos drove a wedge between them.

But when talk of marriage began, so did the business discussion. The two men didn’t trust each other for anything. But they were both smart enough to know if they partnered up, then their fortune and companies would be some of the biggest on the East Coast.

Our nuptials became the center of it all. Marriage would permanently join our families, and in return, their companies. They decided to split everything. Both of their names would be on all the companies, making sure one didn’t have power over the other. They were so happy with it, the marriage was set in stone, even if Talie and I changed our minds.

“We have high expectations for both of you.” He lowered his voice; threat laced in his next words. “Do not disappoint us. You know what happens if you do.”

He’d told me last week what would happen if this marriage failed. If Talie or I stepped out of line. My mouth grew dry. “We won’t.”

“I know Natalia can be…headstrong.” He sighed. “It’s your job to keep her in line. We don’t need bad press on our families.”

My eyes cut to his, keeping my demeanor calm while my heart sank. “I understand.”

“You will be taking over the business when I retire, Damian. Natalia will stand behind you as the perfect wife.” He picked up the picture frame on his desk. “Just like your mother.”

My teeth clenched, and I sucked in a breath through my nose. I loved my mom. But her entire personality centered around pleasing my father. That was one reason we got married. So Talie didn’t have to be stuck with an asshole who treated her badly.

“I’ll give you one year before we expect a child.”

Shock engulfed me. “She’s only eighteen.”

“Then you can hire a nanny,” he snapped. “I don’t care. This marriage is good. But a child shared between the families? That will make sure Jude doesn’t do any backdoor deals. He wouldn’t chance anything if he had a grandson to run his empire someday.”

I didn’t mention how our future children could be all girls. Jude only had daughters. He always wanted a son to take over everything. I guessed now he was hoping for a grandson.

“Natalia is rebellious. She always has been,” he continued as he opened the laptop on his desk. “I don’t want her to step a foot out of line. No jobs. No need for college. She’ll get used to her life.”

I knew this was coming. I promised Talie I’d stand up to him and tell him she would be free to do what she wanted. But as I met my father’s eye, my pulse thudded. He was dead serious about this. If I argued, it wouldn’t go well at all.

“Here.” He typed before turning the laptop until the screen was facing me. “Send it.”

I crept closer, dropping my gaze to read the small text. Dread slithered through me when I realized what it was.

“That’s her scholarship,” I said in a low voice.

“I want you to finish the email and type her name.”

I swallowed around the lump growing in my throat. Talie’s father had forbidden her from going to the fancy music school she so desperately wanted to attend. He refused to pay for it, so she applied for a full scholarship. She found out two days ago she’d been accepted. I glanced at the email address, and my lips parted in shock.

“How did you get into her email?” I asked. The question came out before I could think about it.

“Jude has his daughter on a short leash. Especially since she’s made comments about her aspirations after high school. He has access to her accounts.”

That was news to me. Did Talie know? Most likely not, or she would have taken steps to keep things hidden from him. Though I did know she had a different email account she used for her friends and social media.

“You want me to turn the scholarship down?” I wasn’t even sure why I was asking when I already knew the answer.

“She won’t be going. Or to any other school, for that matter. Both Jude and I want you to start a family.” His lips tipped into a scowl when I didn’t move. “You told me this marriage was a smart business decision. Were you lying?”

Yes. “No. Of course not.”

He nudged the laptop, and I set my glass down. I held my breath as I typed out Talie’s full name, sending regards that she would not be attending. She was going to be crushed. And pissed—at me. My father made me do this to make sure I had what it took to do what he wanted.

Once I finished, I paused for a moment before clicking send. My father made a noise of approval as he picked his whiskey back up.

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