Page 9 of An Inevitable Marriage

But it wasn’t.

I tried to focus on her words.

“They’re saying the pneumonia caused the abscesses in his lungs. He’ll need surgery if the antibiotics don’t help.” She sniffled again, which quickly turned into a full-blown sob. “Oh, Evie, I don’t know what to do. We just started the business, we haven’t even made a profit yet, and now this.”

Tears rolled down my cheeks. “Tell me how much you need, Mom.”

Most of my savings had gone to freaking Anthony. He’d needed a new camera and equipment when he’d started his job at the magazine, and I’d wanted to be a supportive girlfriend.

Asshole.

“I didn’t call to ask for money.” Another sob. “What kind of parent takes money from their child?”

My parents were proud people. They never complained, even when Natalie’s father treated them like dirt and paid them even less. Never asked for anything from anyone. They’d simply squirreled away what they had until they could move and start over.

I knew they put everything into starting the catering business. I also knew surgeries and hospital stays were damn expensive.

More tears fell, and I tried my hardest to keep my voice steady. “You’ve taken care of me my entire life. Let me take care of you now, okay?”

The fact my mom didn’t fight me told me exactly how bad things were going. That was why, when we said goodbye, I immediately opened my banking app and sent my mom almost everything in my account.

When I didn’t look like a raccoon who’d fought a hyena, I’d go into the bank and release my savings, then send her that, too.

“If I’d known my life would turn into such a shitshow today, I would have stayed in bed,” I mumbled to myself. “First, I lose my freaking job, only to find out I’ve been living with a cheating asshole, and now my dad is sick, too.”

This time, I didn’t even bother steadying myself. My shoulders shook as the day’s events finally took their toll.

“Unfortunately, I can’t do anything about your dad or the cheating asshole.”

The words came from behind me, laced with an Italian accent. I had two seconds to pull myself together before the man stepped into my line of sight.

With an angry frown—because how dare he intrude on my moment of self-pity—I swiped at my tears and tilted my head back to look at the stranger.

When he smiled wide, I was ready to rip him a new one. But he spoke first.

“I’ll pay you whatever you want to marry my friend.”

Chapter three

Everlee

“Excuse me?”

Shooting Mr. Italy a glare, I straightened my spine and not so patiently waited for him to laugh or apologize. Or anything else, really. Because if he was serious, he needed the help only a professional establishment could provide.

“Name your price,” he drawled. He pulled something from his pocket and wiped the bench before sitting beside me. Still flashing that too-bright smile, he shifted his body sideways and slung one leg over the other.

Now painfully aware of my disheveled state, I arched a brow and crossed my arms. “Comfy?”

“Incredibly.”

If we were in a cartoon, his teeth would have had that eye-blinding sparkle. It was annoying. He was annoying.

“All right, this has been…weird. And I’m leaving now.”

I moved to get up, but his hand shot out, palm facing me.

“Wait, please. I couldn’t help but overhear the riveting conversation you were having with yourself and, of course, the call with yourmamma.”