Page 37 of Stone
If I weren’t so madly in love with my lying, cheating, wait no, not cheating but still lyinghusbandI would have eyed the guy.
I freeze. Damn, husband.
I eye the marriage certificate again, pleading with it to just disappear.
A week, we knew each other for a whole freaking week, and he married me without my knowledge. All while still allowing his ex-wife, to believe they’re still married.
He robbed me of the perfect white wedding that most girls dream of. Okay, so that thought makes me want to shiver in disgust. A large white wedding actually sounds terrifying, but still, a ceremony with my parents, my sister, Donna, even.
I groan as I lie flat on my bed, the sheets smelling fresh which I’m guessing had something to do with my sister or Cage. I bite the bullet and put the certificate next to me and grab the ring box, bringing it up to my face slowly. I open it and the sight takes my breath away. I hate Cage even more for knowing me inside and freaking out.
A matching set of silver rings come into view, the band circled with white diamonds while the engagement ring has an oval diamond with hints of light pink.
They’re beautiful, stunning actually, and I can’t even appreciate them because he went behind my back. He made me believe I was the other woman, only to marry me without my knowledge.
I drop my hand and take deep breaths while my phone continues to ring like it has all week.
I’ve ignored my sister's calls and my parents while dodging Mark at work.
He called a couple of times this morning, then messaged asking when I was due to leave New York. Now I’m no longer his colleague, I ignored him, and as for my family… How do I tell them I’m married?
My phone stops vibrating before it starts up again, sighing I blindly pat around my bed before finding it, fed up with the constant buzzing.
I answer, “Hello,” without looking at the screen.
If it’s Mark, I’ll just tell him exactly what I think of him.
“Well, it’s about time, sweetheart,” my dad replies, making me smile, “I was about to call out the SWAT team.”
“Sorry, Dad,” I whisper, and he hums and replies, “You should be. A whole week of radio silence is not okay, sweetheart. Your mama was worried, your sister was ready to fly out and –”
“I’m married,” I blurt, and Dad goes quiet for a moment before he demands softly, “Explain, Rose.”
I swallow hard as I sit up and ask, “Do you remember when I asked you about Stone?”
“Yeah…” He confirms.
I admit, “Stone is apparently Cage, the man I’d been seeing for five months and kept putting off meeting you and Mama.”
“Ah fuck,” Dad mutters, “He knew I’d recognize him instantly.”
“Yep, because apparently you were around when he was growing up, and he didn’t want you to tell me he was married,” I huff, frustration building again.
“So explain howyouare now married,” Dad asks gently.
I growl, “It’s the alpha hole that made me fall in love with him’s fault! He didn’t me about his wife, or about his club. Then he was with me for one whole week when he decided I was ‘the one’.”
Dad chuckles, “Sounds about right for a brother,” and I snap, “Dad!” and he clears his throat and says, “Sorry, sweetheart, continue.”
I huff,“Apparently, he has a judge on his pay roll,” Dad cuts in again, “Most likely Judge Jones,” and I continue, “To grant him the divorce his father has refused for him to get over the years. Andthenhe had me sign amarriage licenseclaiming he wanted my signature for when I became a famous pediatric cardiology nurse. I said yes. And I know I shouldn’t have fallen for it. He even got Kimmy to sign as witness before he filed it.”
Dad’s quiet for a moment and I don’t say anything knowing he needs to process. Heck, I didn’t come out of my shocked state for two whole hours before I decided he had to be lying to save face. I allowed myself to believe it until I got back an hour ago and saw the evidence myself and yes my heart fluttered seeing the words…Then I scolded myself.
“I always liked that kid,” my dad finally murmurs, and I gasp, “Daddy!”
He did not just say that,seriously?
The man married his daughter, I mean, where’s the cursing, where are the threats?
