Page 65 of Malicious Marriage

“Yes sir.”

“Good. You have until after the wedding.” The last thing I want to do is upset Clover until I have concrete proof. And if I can’t bring her good news before the wedding, then it will just have to wait until after.

28

CLOVER

“You’re getting married today.” Bobby stands in front of me with a small bouquet in his hands. “And you look absolutely beautiful.”

“Do I?” Maybe it’s the nerves churning inside me at the fact that after today I will be Mrs. Savoy and I will have all the wealth and reach I need to find Hailey. It’s the start of my brand-new life.

So, why don’t Ifeelmore excited?

I should be over the moon, ready to knuckle down and track down my sister to get my family back. I should be incredibly eager to walk down that aisle in front of a small collection of friends and seal the deal. Instead, I’m terrified.

“Of course you do,” Bobby says. He steps up beside me and takes my hand, then guides me around to look in the mirror. “Just look at you.”

My ivory white gown clings to my body at just the right angle thanks to the boning of the corset and the pinched, ruffled fabric at my hip and just under one arm. The sheer material that stretches across my shoulders glitters in the light and the fabric is so fine that it barely even looks like clothing. It looks likesomeone has painted glittering stones all over my skin. My red lips and curled hair complete the look, but even as I stare into the mirror, I feel like someone else is looking back at me.

“Talk to me,” Bobby says gently. “What’s making you frown?” He reaches up and smooths his thumb lightly over my forehead.

“I’m thinking about Dean.”

“Good, as you should.”

“Not like that. I’m thinking about how he was after he came back from talking to Trisha. He didn’t tell meexactlywhat went down between them but he looked so unhappy. He kept thanking me for telling him the truth and talking about trust. And then he got swept away at work so I didn’t have time to say anything.”

“What do you want to say?” Bobby’s head tilts until he catches my eye. “Are you thinking now is the right time to tell him the truth?” He almost looks hopeful.

I play it out in my mind like I have done for the past three days, but no matter how I try to shape it, things never end well for me. I tell Dean the truth and explain that without my sister, I don’t have enough claim to get back into the family, that my uncle disowned me and I’m not penniless because of gambling. I’m penniless because I’m no longer a Byrne.

Each time I play out that rehearsed speech in my mind while begging him to still go along with the wedding, he looks at me with the same pained expression he wore in the kitchen when I told him about Conor. And then he leaves because there is nothing to make him stay.

My entire presence in this deal is to get heat off his back and make those around him think he’s working on securing an heir while also saving him from Trisha. I can’t do that as a nobody.

“No,” I say eventually. “There’s no way this can play out any other way.”

Bobby sighs softly and squeezes my hand. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. No excuse I can give will justify how we targeted him, or how I am like all the others, just after him for his money.”

“As excuses go, it’s a decent one,” Bobby says.

“And yet he’s trying to escape liars. We both know how this will end up. I just need to make sure it falls apartafterI find Hailey.”

Bobby grimaces but nods. “I understand where you’re coming from. Alright, let me go and see if they are ready for you.” He leans in and presses a swift, soft kiss to my cheek and departs the room, which gives me a moment to gather myself. It’s simple. I just need to get through today and focus on the exciting fact that I am marrying agorgeousman. Then I can finally start properly searching for Hailey.

As I take deep breaths, a jingle rises up from my phone as an unknown call connects.

“Hello?”

“Clover Byrne? It’s Doctor Stevenson. We spoke a few days ago when you were in after the car accident?”

“Oh, yes! I remember. Is everything alright?”

“I’m so sorry it’s taken me so long to get back to you. I have the results of your full workup that your husband requested?”

“Oh, I forgot about that.”