Chapter 3

TATUM’S POV

Could this day get any worse?

First, the ridiculous engagement announcement — the one that was taken down almost immediately.

Definitely Arden’s doing. He would never allow his girlfriend to lose face over an arranged marriage, so he had the news pulled before it could go viral. For that, I’m grateful.

Anyone who managed to see it will probably assume the media was doing what it does best — stirring up nonsense for attention. After all, it disappeared almost as quickly as it aired.

Then my car broke down on the way to work.

And now I’ve been summoned to dine with the Voss family.

There’s no way I’m going.

I spent hours pacing my room, debating whether I should attend or not. Eventually, exhaustion won. I organized everything my brother would need for the night before moving to my closet.

I finally settled on a short blue gown and heels. Light makeup. Soft waves. A mini bag.

Simple. Controlled.

Unlike my life.

I took a cab to the Voss estate.

A butler greeted me at the entrance and escorted me to the dining hall. The Voss patriarch was already seated. The moment he saw me, his face lit up with a wide smile.

Some of my tension eased.

“Good evening, Chairman Voss,” I greeted politely.

“Good evening, ma’am and sir,” I added to Arden’s parents.

“Please, have a seat,” the old man said warmly.

“Thank you, sir.”

“Don’t be so formal. Call me Dayton… or Grandpa.”

I forced a smile. “Okay.”

“Welcome to the family, dear,” Arden’s father said. His mother simply smiled at me—quiet, gentle.

Amelia, my best friend, was seated nearby. Her presence made this whole circus slightly bearable.

If her stories were even half true, I was walking straight into a prison.

“Arden will be joining us shortly,” Dayton said, pulling me from my thoughts.

Moments later, I heard footsteps.

And then I saw him.

Arden Voss.

Black tuxedo. Broad shoulders. Sharp jawline. Hazel eyes. Slicked-back hair. Easily over six feet tall.

He looked unreal.

Too perfect.

Too powerful.

Brianna Anderson is one lucky witch, I thought bitterly.

“You finally found a way to trap me,” Arden said coldly without greeting anyone. “Who knew someone like you would stoop this low?”

Wow.

Not just rude. Disrespectful.

“Arden!” his mother snapped gently.

Dayton ignored him. “Arden, meet Tatum Hollis. Tatum, this is Arden.”

“Hello,” I said calmly, even though I knew he wouldn’t respond.

His gaze locked onto mine.

Cold. Intense. Calculating.

I swallowed.

That man could make people shiver without lifting a finger.

Dinner was served.

“How is work?” Dayton asked me.

“It’s good,” I replied politely.

“I heard you work at Anderson Entertainment as a PR manager. Isn’t that stressful?”

“Sometimes. But I enjoy it. So it doesn’t feel like a burden.”

“Why not work for the Hollis Group?”

“I wanted something more exciting. The Hollis Group is a little… boring.”

I instantly regretted saying that.

To my surprise, he laughed.

“That’s fair. You have your own path.”

Across the table, Arden finally looked up.

Our eyes met.

Something unreadable passed between us before I looked away.

“Why aren’t you trying the dessert?” Dayton asked.

“I’m allergic to strawberries.”

He looked horrified. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s fine.”

After dinner, we moved to the living room.

Dayton cleared his throat.

“I assume you both know why you’re here.”

My heart pounded.

“In the next two to three days, Tatum, you will move in with Arden. My lawyer will prepare the marriage certificate.

Do not think having the announcement taken down means you can escape this. I allowed it to be removed because I realized the publicity wasn’t necessary. You may keep this as secretive as you like…

But you are not escaping this marriage.”

Arden said nothing.

He looked… defeated.

I never imagined I’d see Arden Voss looking powerless.

“Chairman… I live with my younger brother. He’s sick. I can’t leave him alone,” I said firmly.

“I’ve already spoken to your father,” Dayton replied smoothly. “Your brother will be transferred to our hospital school. He’ll receive treatment daily and continue his education. It’s a boarding facility with children his age.”

He decided.

Without me.

“If you’re worried, you may visit him daily. He’ll be allowed outings.”

He sounded kind.

But it was still control.

Arden suddenly stood and walked out.

I exhaled heavily.

Minutes later, I stepped outside and saw him leaning against his car.

He hadn’t left.

I tried walking past him.

“Get in,” he said.

“Where—"

He opened the door and pushed me inside before getting in himself.

“Are you insane?” I snapped.

He ignored me and drove off.

Only God knows where this monster is taking me.

I found out soon enough when he pulled over in front of a high-end restaurant.

We stepped out of the car, and he walked in without waiting for me. I followed.

The restaurant was completely empty.

No customers. No noise. Just waiters standing stiffly at the corners like statues.

Of course.

He definitely arranged this.

He took a seat, and I sat opposite him. He stared at me for a long moment.

Is he about to issue me a blank check to disappear from his life forever?

Honestly, I’d take it without thinking twice.

I almost smiled at my own joke—until I realized his eyes were boring into me.

I quickly cleared my throat and took a sip of water.

“We clearly have no way out of this marriage anymore,” he began coldly. “So listen carefully. I have a girlfriend. I’m deeply invested in her. I don’t care what the old man says about this messed-up marriage—I’m not doing it. And I know you don’t want it either.”

I said nothing.

Truthfully? I didn’t exactly hate the marriage. The old man had promised to take care of my brother. That alone made it tempting.

But a lifetime with this arrogant, domineering man?

That part was unbearable.

“So let’s end this,” he continued. “I’ll pay you whatever amount you want. Refuse the old man’s request and go live however you want — with your brother, or wherever that is.

You don’t really want to be stuck with me forever… do you?”

I just stared at him.

I saw the desperation in his eyes.

He was trying.

Trying to protect his girlfriend.

I understood why he wanted me to go to the old man instead of him. The old man probably had a leash around his neck. Amelia had warned me about that.

He was brave… but also foolish.

He was pushing all the consequences onto me.

Maybe because he knew I didn’t care about the Hollis name as much as he cared about his.

“Are you even listening to me?” he snapped.

I blinked. “Ahem. I don’t want this marriage either, and I understand what you’re—”

The restaurant doors burst open with a loud bang.

I turned toward the sound.

And there she was.

Brianna.

I had spent the entire day avoiding her because there was no way she hadn’t seen the news before it was taken down.

And now, she had found me.

“I’m doomed,” I muttered under my breath.

“Brianna!” Arden stood abruptly.

“How could you do this to me, Arden?!” she screamed. “Marrying this freak? And I had to find out through the news?!”

Freak.

That word echoed in my head.

Did she just call me a freak?

“Brianna, calm down. Let’s talk in my car,” Arden tried.

But I already knew.

She would never calm down.

“You’re not even denying it!” she shrieked. “Is that why you brought her to a restaurant? Are you on a date?”

I stayed silent, watching the scene unfold.

“I knew this freak would bring trouble one day,” she continued venomously. “I just didn’t expect her to be a man-snatcher like her dead mother.”

That did it.

I felt something snap inside me.

I wasn’t surprised she knew about my mother. She was close to Clara. That snake must have told her everything.

I stood slowly.

“Listen carefully,” I said, my voice dangerously calm. “You can insult me all you want. But if you say another word about my mother, you will regret it.”

“And what if I do?” she shot back. “You think you’re important now because you’re announced as the Voss heir’s wife? You’ll never be anything like your dead mother.”

“Brianna,” Arden warned.

But it was too late.

Something inside me hardened.

I stepped closer to her and smiled.

“You know what?” I said sweetly. “Ever since this engagement was announced, I’ve felt guilty. I thought I was about to ruin another woman’s happiness.”

I tilted my head slightly.

“But it doesn’t feel that bad anymore.”

Her expression changed.

“I’m marrying Arden,” I continued. “I will be his bride. And there’s absolutely nothing you can do about it.”

I grabbed my bag and turned toward the door.

Then I stopped.

“Oh, and I’ll personally deliver our wedding invitation. You’re always welcome, darling.”

Her screams followed me out of the restaurant.

For the first time in a long while—

I didn’t feel like the victim.

I felt powerful.

And even though I knew I might regret this later…

Right now?

It felt absolutely worth it.