Page 37 of If You Claim Me

“We had a private villa on the other end of the resort and a staff to prepare meals,” I explain. She was also under the weather for the first part of the trip and mostly stayed by the private pool.

“That makes sense.” Mildred tugs at the hair tie on her left wrist.

“Is everything okay? You seem tense.” Maybe being alone with me in a confined space is the problem.

“I need to talk to you about my apartment.”

“What about it?”

“They’re evicting me at the end of the month, unless I can come up with the hundred thousand in back rent.”

“When did you get this notice?” Her short engagement comment makes more sense now.

“Yesterday.”

“Why are you only telling me now?”

“Because I’m only seeing you now to tell you, and this is the first time we’ve been alone.”

“You should have called me last night.”

“I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but I don’t particularly like asking for help.” She tugs at the hair tie again.

I do know this about her. “But you’re always so willing to offer it.”

She shrugs. “It feels good to help people. It feels bad to ask for it.”

“Because someone has something they can hold over you?” I supply. That’s how I’ve always felt about my family. The Grace fortune is a carrot dangled.

“Because in my world, favors come with strings, and some of those strings can be tripping hazards.” She snaps the hair tie, then crosses her arms. “I can’t lose the apartment.”

“You won’t. I said I would handle it, and I will. I already have my lawyers working on it. Send me a copy of whatever was sent to you, and I’ll make it go away.” Might as well rip the Band-Aid off. “But also, it would be best if you moved into Meems’s house with me as soon as possible.”

Her head snaps in my direction. “I’m sorry, what?”

I stay focused on the road. “She’s moved into the guest quarters so we can move into the mansion.”

“What? I thought I’d be moving in with you after we’re married—and into your place, not with Meems.”

I sigh. “That plan has been adjusted and expedited. Meems has already gifted my father and my sisters each a home, and she plans to do the same for us. She just told me this today, but it’s what she wants, and as you know, my goal is to make her happy. The sooner you move in, the happier she’ll be. Besides, it simplifies things if I can manage your landlord while you’re not in imminent danger of losing your place to live.”

“What about what I want?”

Heat shoots down my spine at her defiant tone. We’restopped at a light, so I turn to take in her expression. Under that defiance is fear.

“You get the things you want when this marriage ends.” I grip the steering wheel and turn back to face the windshield, hating what that will mean.

“You’re unbelievable,” she murmurs.

“This is what you signed on for, Mildred. You agreed to the terms, and those terms include making Meems happy. This ensures her happiness.” I can feel her eyes on me.

“What do you want, Connor?”

“For my grandmother to be happy.”

“That’s what you want forher. What do you want foryou?”

“That’s irrelevant.”