The Fiance Trade-off

When Julian Grant saw how easily I agreed to his marriage proposal, one of his eyebrows lifted. The little stud at the tail end caught the light and sparkled with his movement.

To people like us, marriage was just another weight on the scale of business interests. Who you married barely mattered.

So, his surprise vanished just as fast. A moment later, he was back to his devil-may-care, cocky self.

"Cool. I’ll swing by tomorrow to talk wedding plans. Gotta go handle a bunch of crusty old men tonight. What a pain," he grumbled, ruffling his already chaotic curls.

I couldn’t help but chuckle and reached out to push a lock of hair off his forehead. "No rush. Just call me when you’ve got time."

He seemed pleased with my easygoing attitude. After a few more offhand remarks, he swaggered away.

I went home as usual, only to find someone I’d hoped to never see again waiting outside my private villa—Ryan Carter.

"Well, if it isn’t Mr. Carter out for a walk. Odd trail you’ve picked, ending up in a private estate like mine."

Ryan looked uncomfortable, forcing out an awkward laugh.

"Claire, don’t be like that. About what happened the other day…I didn’t have a choice, okay? You know Amber’s personality. She keeps everything to herself. If she married that player from the Grants, she’d be cheated on before the honeymoon was over. I couldn’t just watch her walk into hell."

My face was blank.

He couldn’t stand the thought of Amber Sweeney suffering, but he was just fine with turning me—his fiancee—into the city’s laughingstock?

How did that make sense?

I didn’t care to argue. I brushed past him toward the house, but he made an attempt to grab my arm.

"Say what you need to say. Don’t touch me."

"Claire, are you really drawing the line like this? I married Amber, yeah, but that doesn’t mean we’re done! It’s just a marriage certificate and doesn’t change how I feel. We can still be together. Sure, you won’t have a title, but I know you love me enough to accept that, right?"

His eyes were full of hope.

I frowned, honestly baffled by how shameless he could be. Was he seriously asking me to be his mistress?

I laughed, feeling so furious that I could barely breathe. "Ryan, you seriously overestimate your worth. There’s nothing to salvage here. Let's go our separate ways. Don’t bother me again."

I was dead serious, but he clearly thought I was just throwing a tantrum. He tugged on my sleeve, still smiling like an idiot.

"Okay, okay, don’t be so harsh. I know you’re upset I married someone else. But I promise, I’ll treat you both fairly. You and Amber are the loves of my life. Sure, she’s my legal wife, but I won’t let her overshadow you. Sound good?"

I stared at him. Did my parents really pick this guy to be my fiance?

Nonetheless, my upbringing wouldn’t allow me to lose my temper so easily. I checked the time. I might as well settle everything now.

"Ryan, let me be clear. I don’t love you. We just happened to grow up together, and our parents just happened to pair us up. All these years, I’ve only ever done what was expected of a fiancee. I never liked you.

"So who you love, who you marry—none of it concerns me. You don’t need to tell me anything, and I don’t care what you think.

"Did I spell that out clearly enough? If there’s nothing else, please leave."

I saw his expression shift into one of shock, disbelief, and finally full-blown rage. His face flushed red.

"Claire, what the hell is wrong with you? You’re just lying to make me mad! I came here. I apologized. What else do you want from me? You think I don’t have pride? Even Amber was willing to compromise. Who do you think you are, saying no to me?

"Offering to make you my mistress is already more than you deserve. Ask around. No one in this city wants to deal with your nouveau riche family. I’m the only one who didn’t care!

"You won’t come down from your high horse? Fine. You’ll regret this!"

He stormed off, tires screeching as he peeled out of my driveway.

I stood there, watching the exhaust smoke swirl in the air, feeling a mix of things. To say I had no feelings for him wasn’t completely true. We did grow up together.

However, whatever sliver of affection might’ve lingered had long been burned out. Every time he chose Amber over me, it chipped away until nothing was left.