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“What?”

“Cassie, please don’t tell me you’re actually-”

“Calm down, Max,” Chloe cuts in. then she offers me a sweet smile, “You remember when you told us you might be attracted to older men.”

I groan softly, “Come on, Chlo.”

She giggles, “I’m just saying. Your mobster husband to be is not ugly, not in the slightest. And if we subtract his other qualities, he’s actually your type.”

“Except those qualities you subtracted are important,” Maxine grits out. “You can’t seriously be encouraging this, Chloe.”

“No one is encouraging anything,” I burst out, a little flustered.

I can’t believe they were able to read me so easily. The consequences of long-term friendships.

“You still have a plan, remember that,” Maxine says, her eyes fierce.

I nod, “Yeah, I remember.”

The door opens putting an end to the conversation. My uncle walks in, wearing a tux and looking as sharp as ever. My heart aches a little at the sight of him. He bears a striking resemblance to my dad. His face is slightly unreadable as he walks over.

“Uncle Miguel,” I say with a small smile.

“You look beautiful, Cassie,” he says with a smile of its own. Although his is forced. “Ladies. Could I have a moment with my niece?”

They both shuffle out of the room, the door clicking shut behind them. I rise slowly, smoothing my hands over the silk of the dress.

“Come to make sure the bride doesn’t bolt?” I ask.

He’s not amused in the slightest, “Cassie you can’t possibly be planning to go through with this.”

I huff out a frustrated breath.

“I really wish people would stop saying that. I don’t have another choice. I have to go through with this.”

He exhales a shaky breath, placing both hands over his mouth.

“This isn’t right. Your father didn’t want this for you,” he states with a tortured expression. “He was looking for solutions before he died. Fighting for a chance to get you out of this.”

“Well guess what, uncle, he failed. Because he’s dead. He’s dead and I’m stuck in this situation because of a deal he made in the first instance.”

I’ve been struggling with what to feel with regards to my dad. I am so angry at him for the secrets he kept, the truth he held back from me. He literally sold me away, bargained with my life. But at the same time, it feels useless to be angry with him.

It’s like screaming into a void. Unsatisfying because the subject of all my anger isn’t here to hear it.

I can’t dwell on what he should or shouldn’t have done. I can only look forward now.

“He did everything to protect you, Cassie. All his life, he lived for you,” my uncle says heatedly.

“I know,” I sigh, suddenly feeling very tired, “I know how much he loved me.”

This conversation feels draining. I don’t want to think about my father on a day he should be a part of but can’t be.

“Tell me about something else. How’s the company?” I ask my uncle.

His expression tightens. It’s pretty clear the man is going through it.

“Well, things are running about as well as they can be considering the present situation of things. We’re a little stuck in limbo here because your father’s will hasn’t been read. Untilit is, the company has no CEO which is causing some internal problems. But it’s nothing I can’t handle, at least for now.”