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I swallow around the lump in my throat and nod, unable to find my voice.

“Let’s unravel this one bomb at a time though. And Cal will not find out until you’re ready to tell him,” Celeste reassures me. “Merde, I wish I could drink. How bad is the money situation?”

I sum up the bleak situation and even bleaker prognosis. As I talk, I wonder how I let things get this far. “I’ve been stupid really—”

“Don’t you dare blame yourself,” Celeste interrupts. “Can we help?”

“No, it’s okay. I don’t need your money.”

“Yes, you do,” Cora says. “But I guess that leads us to bomb number two.”

“Who is the lucky man?” Lily asks.

I finally take a sip from my now cold coffee. “Cormac Quinn.”

“Merde,” Celeste swears again. She had her own grievances with Cal’s business partner.

“But you hate each other.” Lily gasps.

I fidget. “Hate is a strong word.” I didn’t realize my animosity toward him was public knowledge. I mean, Lily met him once, I think.

“I saw you two at Celeste’s vow renewal. You didn’t speak, just glared at each other,” Lily says.

“I disagree. I think Quinn was looking at Saar like she was his meal.” Cora chuckles.

“Wasn’t he?” Celeste perks up.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake. Have you seen the media coverage? Every woman is a potential meal for him. Nevertheless, us not liking each other is a good prerequisite for a successful arrangement.”

Celeste raises her eyebrows, tilting her head like I’m full of bullshit.

I huff with exasperation. “I’m not going to fall in love with him like you did with Cal.”

“So what’s his angle?” Celeste asks.

“He needs his image repaired with a docile, smiling wife on his side.” I nip a piece from Celeste’s croissant.

She swats at my hand. “Hey, I’m eating for two. And Cal doesn’t know you’re the bride?”

Yeah, that’s a bridge I’m not too keen to cross. “I hope he’ll take it as well as you.”

“He works with Corm, and he doesn’t know yet?” Celeste gasps.

“Nobody knows yet.”

Celeste sighs, and I whip my head to her. “Don’t you cave. I need to tell him myself.”

“Of course, but don’t take too long, because that’s a hard one to keep to myself.” Celeste takes a generous bite of her pastry.

We sit in silence. My friends probably absorbing the news. Me? I guess I’m also absorbing.

The enormity of it. The absurdity of it. The finality of it all.

I lost my freedom in the last few weeks.

Moneyless. Jobless. Simply less. That’s who I am at the moment.

“Isn’t it weird this group doesn’t seem to believe in marrying for love?” Lily breaks the silence.