Chapter 24

Sierra can barely look me in the eye as we walk out of the observatory together, toward the limousine that’s waiting for us. She blushes so beautifully when I open the door for her, only to tense slightly, her smile withering away as she sits down. It isn’t until I join her that I realize why.

Opposite my wife sit her grandmother and both of my parents, cryptic smiles on their faces. “What is the meaning of this?” I ask, irritated. Sierra finally seemed to let her guard down by the end of the night, only for these three to ruin everything.

“Congratulations on your wedding, kids,” Anne says, smiling tightly.

Mom nods. “Welcome to the Kingston family, Sierra. Roger and I are both beyond thrilled to have you.”

“Indeed,” he says. “However, as you’re well aware, this is an arranged marriage and a business merger. As such, it comes with a set of rules.”

Rules? They must be joking. So far, I’ve had to listen to rules from Sierra, and then her brothers, and now this? “They are meant to ensure you give your marriage a true chance,” Anne explains, smiling sweetly. “Though the merger is mutually beneficial, we wouldn’t want to do it at the expense of your happiness. Your parents and I firmly believe you can have both — your happiness and a thriving business, provided you’re willing to work for it.”

“We’ll only give you a few rules to abide by,” Dad says. “First of all, you must be faithful to each other. Should one of you stray, you both lose everything, and your company will fall into the hands of your siblings.”

I clench my jaw and nod, irritated. The mere insinuation that I’d ever cheat on Sierra is ridiculous. I know she doesn’t like me all that much, but I know her, and she’d never cheat either.

“Secondly,” Sierra’s grandmother says. “You must share a bed every night, and you can’t be apart for more than two weeks over a six month period. You cannot have separate lives or bedrooms.”

Sierra tenses, but personally, that’s a rule I can get behind. I hadn’t been sure what to expect of our marriage, and Sierra has pointedly refused to talk to me privately since I saw her at the charity gala. I figured I’d have quite the battle ahead of me, but this might just make things easier.

“Third and final rule,” Mom says. “You must remain married for a period of three years. If, after that time, either of you wish for a divorce, you’ll be granted one with your assets being split per the pre-nuptial agreement you both signed.”

Three years… is that enough time to make her fall for me? “Understood,” I tell them, uneasy.

Sierra nods too, seemingly just as uncertain about our situation as I am. “Sierra,” her grandmother says. “You’ll start off your marriage at Xavier’s residence, and I expect you to live there for at least six months. If, after that, you both would like to spend some time in your old home, you can. Raven has already arranged for your things to be moved to Xavier’s house. You should find everything you need.”

I breathe a sigh of relief. If her grandmother had allowed us to stay on the Windsor Estate, she’d find countless reasons to never be around me.

“What?” She looks out the window and realizes we’ve left the Windsor Estate. “But I thought…”

She thought we’d spend our wedding night at her house? I suppose it would’ve made sense, since our wedding took place on the Windsor Estate, but I’d much rather have her in my own bed tonight.

“For the first three months, you’re exempt from attending family events. I’d like you both to focus on your marriage, and give each other a real chance,” Mom says.

“Promise me,” Anne says. “Both of you. Promise me that you’ll actively try to make this marriage work.”

Sierra tenses, clearly not comfortable with lying to her grandmother. I reach for her hand, and she looks into my eyes as I entwine our fingers. “I promise,” I say, my eyes never leaving hers. She takes a shaky breath and nods. “Me too,” she says, her voice barely above a whisper.

I squeeze her hand as my parents and her grandmother begin to discuss the merger, and Sierra holds onto my hand tightly. She watches the scenery pass by, and I watch her, my heart beating faster the closer we get to my house.

“We will proceed with the merger within the following months, but considering the complexity of the deal, it will take several months just to get the paperwork done,” Mom explains as we drive through our gates, and I nod, trying my best not to let on that I couldn’t care less about the merger.

“Remember your promise,” my dad says as we pull up in front of my house, and I nod as I step out of the car and offer Sierra my hand. She takes it hesitantly, her expression conflicted. Her eyes narrow when I smirk at her, and she gasps when I sweep her off my feet and into my arms.

“What are you doing?” she asks, outraged.

I chuckle as I carry her to my front door. “Putting on an act. Isn’t that what you told me to do?”

She relaxes in my arms, seemingly placated by my lie. Truth is, I just want to carry my wife over the threshold and into my home, but there’s no way she’d let me if I told her that. The door swings open automatically as I approach, courtesy of my security team, and I grin as I carry her straight through the house and into my bedroom.

“Put me down,” she says, her voice filled with the same venom I’ve gotten used to.

“I don’t want to.”

“Xavier, I swear, I’ll bite you,” she warns, shifting in my arms to brush her lips over my neck.

I swallow down a needy moan at the feel of her lips on such a sensitive part of my throat. “Don’t threaten me with a good time, Kitten.”

She stiffens, almost like she’s only just realized what she’s doing, and I laugh as I gently lower her to the floor, loving how beautifully she’s blushing. “You’re fucking breathtaking, you know that?”

She looks at me like she isn’t sure if she should believe me, and I sigh as I reach for her. Sierra steps back and turns around, seemingly flustered. I watch her as she walks through my room, her curious gaze roaming over every little detail.

“You act like you’ve never been here before, but I know for a fact that you’ve snuck in here several times.” She looks up sharply, surprised I’d know that. “I always wondered, you know? The camera in the hallway showed you sneaking into my room, but nothing was ever amiss. So what did you do in here?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she denies, her voice pitched higher than usual. I smirk as she walks into my walk-in wardrobe, only to pause in shock. “Raven,” she mutters, sounding aggrieved.

I follow her in and bite back a smile when I realize half the room is now filled with Sierra’s clothes, some I’ve seen her wearing before, and some that look brand new. My wife rummages through her things and blushes fiercely when she pulls out some scraps of red lace that I think are supposed to be pajamas. “How could she?” Sierra grumbles. I peek over her shoulder and read the note Raven left.

You once bought something similar for me, and you were right, so the very least I can do is reciprocate. Thank me later! Love you!

PS. Good luck getting your wedding gown off without Xavier’s help. I made the buttons at the back too tiny and too numerous for you to do it yourself.

I can’t help but laugh, and she pulls the note to her chest as she glares at me, her eyes sparkling absolutely beautifully. “Need some help, Kitten?”