Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 72586 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72586 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
"Woah!" He caught my arm to steady me. "You okay?"
"Fine! Sorry, I was..." I gestured vaguely. "Thinking."
"About James?"
"Really? Is every single person I talk to today going to give me unwanted relationship advice?” I half shouted the question. I raised a hand to my mouth, winced, and then muttered an apology. “Long day already. Sorry.”
"I didn’t mean to pry. You two just seem so happy when you’re together, and then every time you’re apart there are storm clouds all over your faces. I know it’s not my place, but it’s like you can’t see how happy you make each other. Or… like you’re finding problems where there aren’t any, when you should really just be focusing on how you feel when you’re around him. I mean, take Lily. When I’m with her, I feel…” he smiled, showing a pair of dimples I hadn’t really noticed before. “Amazing. Like eating the best meal or landing the biggest deal. But better. It’s just… great. So when I’m not with her, I’m usually trying to figure out how the hell to get around her faster. Like right now she’s trying on her dress, so I’m stuck wandering around wishing she was here."
I studied Marcus. For once, I really looked at him. He had that same soft expression he always got when he talked about Lily—like she was the sun his whole world revolved around.
"Can I ask you something?"
He nodded.
"How did you know? With Lily, I mean. How did you know it was real?"
He considered for a moment. "I think... I think it was the little things. Like how she leaves her stuff everywhere and it drives me crazy, but I know I’d be heartbroken if her mess was suddenly gone. Or how she tells terrible jokes when she's nervous. Or how she just... gets me. The good parts and the bad." He smiled. "Why do you ask?"
"No reason." I started to move past him, then stopped. "Marcus?"
"Yeah?"
"You make her really happy. I just... thought you should know that."
His whole face lit up. "She makes me happy too."
I left him there, his words echoing in my head. The good parts and the bad.
Maybe that was the problem. I'd been so focused on the bad parts with James—the wedding wrecking, the trust issues, the complications—that I'd forgotten about all the good.
How he made me laugh. How he caught me when I fell—literally. How he looked at me like I was something precious even when I was being ridiculous.
How being with him felt like coming home, even when I was trying to run away. And I felt all these powerful emotions about a guy I hadn’t even spent an entire week around. It should’ve been ridiculous. Maybe it was ridiculous. But what did that matter?
It wasn’t as if I was considering saying my vows to him or promising my life to him. I was just thinking about taking the first real step—about finally admitting he was worth the risk to me.
"Oh god," I muttered. "I'm an idiot."
I practically ran to his room, my heart pounding as I knocked. No answer.
Fine. I'd wait.
I used my key card—we were still technically sharing a room, even though I'd been avoiding it—and pushed open the door.
The first thing I saw was papers. They covered every surface—the bed, the desk, even some of the floor. Financial records, emails, photographs...
And right in the center of the bed was a photo of Lily and Marcus, with notes scribbled in James' handwriting.
My heart stopped.
"Emma."
I spun to find James in the doorway, his expression wary.
"What is all this?"
He ran a hand through his hair. "Well… this is everything I’ve found about the Wellingtons. Are you ready to hear it?”
26
JAMES
"Iknow we've both been dancing around why I'm really here," I said quietly. "I think you knew all along your mother hired me, just like I knew you'd figured it out."
Emma's shoulders tensed as she looked at the scattered papers. "I guess we've both been avoiding the conversation."
"I needed to be certain before I showed you this." I gestured at the evidence spread across the room. "After what happened in Ireland, I couldn't risk hurting you again without being absolutely sure."
"So now you're sure?" Her voice was carefully neutral. "What did you find?"
I picked up a stack of financial records. "The Wellingtons are broke. Their company is hemorrhaging money, and Richard's been covering it up for years. They're on the verge of complete collapse."
“What?” I breathed. “How is that even possible?”
“Years of ineptitude. Bad investments. Gambling problems going back generations. They squandered hundreds and hundreds of millions. Their properties are either sold or rented out, barely covering the mortgages in most cases. Their businesses are upside down. It’s bad, Em. And they’re desperate. They’ve actually been using credit and some loopholes to make it look like their businesses are still running in the black. But it’s all red. I’d guess it’ll come crumbling down in spectacular fashion any time now.”