Page 24 of Breakout
I don’t need anyone.
She’s angry. I should leave her alone, but I’m a masochist. Even if she’s yelling at me, at least I know how she is doing.
She’s stopped a few steps from the door, looking at the sky.
So I walk up to her outside the office and touch her shoulder.
She spins, glaring at me.“Not now, Beckett,” she spits out.
I let her have that anger. She just found out that not only did she have a family who left her in foster care, but that they are rich and have all the money in the world by the sound of things. Peyton would be a fool to turn down the money. She would have such an easy life after all her struggles, but she’s too proud for that. She wants to earn her place.
Still, I can’t help but feel like this is divine intervention.
As soon as I heard that stipulation, I knew what to do. She would need to be married, and I refuse to let her marry someone else.
No, I will marry her. Now to get her on board.
“Let’s go get some food, then we can talk about it.”
She nods reluctantly.
I let her drive to the diner down the block as she stews in her anger. Once we arrive, we get a table quickly, Peyton sliding in across the booth from me. The server takes our drink order, then hustles off.
“You have every right to be mad, but are you really going to hand the fortune over? There’s a reason he only left her ten dollars.”
Her eyes shoot to mine. “What do you mean he only left her ten dollars?”
“That’s what he said. Did you not hear him?”
She shrugs. “I kind of missed that whole part. I was more focused on the fact that he is practically giving me everything. Why would he do this, Beck?” Her anger is fading, and now she looks sad.
I reach out and grab her hand. “I have no idea, but you have a letter that might explain it.”
“I’m not ready to hear from him yet. I’m still so angry,” she mumbles, squeezing my hand.
“You know you could get married and take control of the money, then decide what to do with it,” I start.
“I wish he hadn’t left me anything,” she admits softly.
“He did, though. Whatever his reasons were, he left them to you so you would be taken care of. Shouldn’t you at least consider taking it? I mean, if your father was alive, it sounds like he would have been the heir, so wouldn’t you be honoring him by accepting it on his behalf?” I ask.
She sighs. “I would need to get married, though, which I never want to do.”
My heart hurts hearing her words. Still, I push forward.
“So you marry someone out of convenience.”
“You heard him. He has to believe it.” She looks up at me, her eyes wary.
“So we sell him on it.”
“Really? Who would I marry then?”
I smile big. “Me, of course.”
She chokes. “What? No way. That’s way against the rules.”
I shrug. “Is it, though? I don’t remember there being one saying we couldn’t get married.”
