The Accidental Marriage: Chapter 36

The exhibition ends not only with arrests, but with the organizers announcing that the auction will be delayed in order to re-evaluate and reassess every piece. The fraud perpetrated by Parker Jacoby and Rupert Fage and his parents leaves many people shaken. Catherine in particular looks to be in a kind of shock, then asks to speak to Lareina later.

I regard my wife with surprise, respect and admiration. When she spoke of painting, she made it sound like she dabbled. She downplayed it every time she talked about what she’d done, like her talents weren’t particularly remarkable. Does she have any idea what a big deal it is to be recognized by someone like Catherine Fairchild? Or have your work end up in Barron Sterling’s collection? Even I’ve heard of the man’s impressive private galleries.

The most amazing part is how calm and collected she was during the entire time Parker and Rupert tried to provoke her and call her a liar. My wife must have nerves of steel.

You just realized that now? a small voice in my head mocks. You didn’t realize that when she free-climbed the façade of your hotel seventeen stories up in a wedding dress?

By the time we arrive home and change into more comfortable clothes to wind down for the evening, I get a text from one of the contacts within the police department I pinged earlier to get an update about the case.

–Francisco: Nabbed Doris and Vernon Fage. Not only did they commit international and federal crimes, they also broke a bunch of state and local laws. The DA is happy because she needs a big, juicy case guaranteed to convict.

What a perfect timing. The woman wants a win to tout during her re-election campaign. “They arrested Doris and Vernon. They’re going to jail.”

“Perfect. Thanks for letting me know.” Lareina smiles as she settles on the bed.

I lie next to her. “So. Now that it’s been resolved to your satisfaction, can you let me know the secret?”

She frowns. “Secret?”

“The one you shared with Catherine.”

“Oh. That?” An awkward clearing of her throat. “Okay, this might sound a bit morbid and weird, but keep in mind I painted the so-called Passion Series when I was sixteen or seventeen or something. Teenage angst, basically.” She looks down at her fingers.

“Okay.” I nod, since she looks unbelievably nervous, but it’s touching that she cares so much about my reaction. Her vulnerability makes me want to take up a shield and protect her, so nobody can ever hurt her.

“If you put all six paintings in order and use the black light, you can see the hidden message. S-A-V-E-M-E. Save me. I used my own blood to write it because it seemed, I don’t know…more dramatic that way.”

I stare at her. She nibbles on her lower lip with embarrassment, but I’m horrified she had to experience that. How desperate she must’ve been. How confused and hurt and upset. No wonder she said the paintings are about pain and rage. The fact that she’s overcome her past makes her the most amazing woman ever.

She scratches the tip of her nose. “It took a while to complete the letter for each canvas because it really hurts to stab your fingertip enough to bleed like that. But eventually, I realized I had the wrong idea. Nobody was going to come to save me. I had to save myself.”

Her soft, self-deprecating words cut like glass shards. I hug her tightly, hoping she can feel how hard my heart beats for her. I wish I could go back in time and shield her from her God-awful aunt and the rest. “How did you endure it for so long without going crazy?”

“Because I knew it wouldn’t last forever. I made plans, thought of ways to make my escape. And it was my luck and blessing that I found you along the way. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not going to forgive any of them for what they’ve done, but I’m not going to live the rest of my life angry and resentful either. I’m still young and pretty! And soon I’m going to be rich, especially with Doris out of the way. With no one to contest my petition to take over my trust, why shouldn’t I live happily ever after?”

I laugh at her exuberance.

“My mom and dad would want me to be happy. So would my grandfather—and everyone else who ever loved me.” She grows quieter. “I want to live happily ever after for them.”

“You will.”

She smiles and brushes her fingertips over my cheek. “Thank you.” Then she blinks like she’s just remembered something. “By the way, did you get to review and sign our super-late prenup from Ethan?”

“He brought it to me, but I haven’t had a chance to review it.”

“You want to take a look? You can ask me if you have any questions.”

“I don’t feel like getting up.”

“Oh, come on. You’re such a baby,” she teases.

“Mmm… Can a baby do this?” I lift her nightshirt and kiss the side of her waist.

She jolts and shrieks with laughter. “Stop! I’m ticklish there!”

“Never!” I kiss the spot again.

She tries frantically to push me away, her small arms straining cutely against the top of my head. “Come on! I have it on my—agh!—tablet, so you can read it without leaving the bed!”

“Oh, all right.” I reluctantly push away from her so she can grab the tablet. I shouldn’t have given her the black AmEx to buy stuff. Who brings work to their bed?

She taps a few times and hands it to me. Glumly, I start to read, all the while mentally cursing. That fucking Beckman. He could’ve given it to her next week.

The agreement is fairly standard. Nothing egregious. Beckman probably whined that she should be more ruthless about taking my property. After all, he thinks I’m just a spoiled trust-fund baby.

Then I get to the section about her assets.

What the—?

The trust she’s fighting for is worth sixty-two billion? It isn’t a typo or math error. I add up everything in my head just to be sure. Then there’s a matter of the real estate, antiques and works of art that come with her family’s estate. The estimated value of those dumps another billion or so onto the total.

I stop reading and just stare. I’ve seen big numbers before, helping clients move hundreds of billions of dollars in transactions and deals. But to think…

When Lareina said her aunt wanted her money… No wonder they were willing to poison her to get it. I should’ve asked about the extent of her inheritance sooner and arranged for bodyguards. I didn’t think of it because Doris, Rupert and Vernon had been quiet since our marriage. But if they hadn’t been plotting to steal Lareina’s paintings instead, things could’ve gotten ugly.

Suddenly the memories of times I thought Lareina might be after my money fleet through my head. Ugh. Talk about embarrassing. I want to kick the blanket, but thankfully I’ve never said it out loud. It’ll just be my secret shame.

I shake my head. “I’ve never thought I’d say this, but I feel kind of…poor.”

“What? Why?”

“Uh, sixty-two billion…?”

“Yeah, the trust grew a bit. Surprise!” She shrugs with an awkward smile. “Does it matter that I have more money than you?” She peers at me earnestly.

I smother the laughter bubbling in my throat. “Does it matter that I have less money than you?”

“No!”

“There’s your answer. You’ll always just be Lareina to me.”

“Aww.” She sighs softly, resting her cheek over my heart and looking into my eyes. “And you’ll always be Ares to me. My knight.”