Chapter 4

Third-Person POV

The room exploded with a crash as Yvonne slammed her favorite game console to the floor.

Silence.

Then she cursed under her breath, ripped the door open, and stormed out.

Too late.

Jared was gone.

One of her friends shifted nervously. "Yvonne, should I go get him?"

Yvonne stared into the dark, frustration choking her.

She never thought Jared would actually leave.

She gave a sharp, cold laugh. "Why bother? Give him three days. He'll crawl back.

"And if he misses the marriage license appointment? That's on him."

***

Jared's POV

While I was checking into a hotel, Tony sent me a voice message.

His tone dripped with mockery, like he was trying to shove reality in my face.

"If you've got a backbone, don't ever come back. But we both know you can't stay away from Yvonne. She's rich. She's gorgeous. Even if nobody wants you there, you'll still cling to her like some stray dog."

I knew exactly what he was doing.

He wanted to bait me into staying gone.

The thought made me laugh.

I almost told him not to bother.

Instead, I blocked him.

Early the next morning, Rachel Reid came to marry me.

She looked gorgeous. Elegant, too.

I stared at her for a moment, then kissed her cheek.

"You look beautiful."

She dipped her head, smiling shyly.

When we arrived, I snapped a photo of the County Clerk's Office entrance.

Then Rachel and I walked inside, hand in hand.

***

Third-Person POV

At the same time, one of Yvonne's friends, who'd been up with her all night, shot straight up.

"Oh my God, Yvonne! Look what Jared's doing!"

The second Yvonne heard Jared's name, she snatched the phone.

On-screen was a photo of the County Clerk's Office.

She smirked. "Wow. Didn't he storm out? Now he's standing outside the clerk's office trying to guilt me into marrying him?"

The room burst out laughing.

"Are you going, Yvonne?"

"Obviously not. If she goes, she loses."

The gloom hanging over Yvonne all night finally lifted.

She raised an eyebrow, smug. "Depends on my mood. Once I've cooled—"

"Holy crap, wait!"

Before she could finish, someone refreshed the page.

A new update popped up.

"Jared got a marriage license? With Rachel Reid? Reid Corp's next CEO?"