Page 29 of Mask and the Magnolia

MAGNOLIA

With a sigh, I push my food around my plate, nodding as Camden drones on about the way the decorators fucked up the floor in his new office when they brought in the furniture.

“Torn, Magnolia. The ten thousand dollar rug Byron gifted me was torn right down the middle.”

And I’m supposed to care why?

I’m not sure I’d give a shit about this if we were actually in love and willingly mating. Hell, I don’t think I’d give one single fuck if I liked Camden on any level but we aren’t and I don’t, so I care even less.

Which I didn’t think was possible.

Then again, situations like this never cease to amaze me.

Almost every time we’re together I discover something else repulsive about the male sitting across from me. Repulsive, offensive. Idiotic. Downright fucking rude. He’s shallow and insensitive, narcissistic, and for someone on track to being a doctor and the dean of medicine, his IQ might be lower than an earthworm’s.

Camden is also a walking red flag who’s quick to anger, extremely close minded and judgmental, and I don’t think it’s in his DNA to be committed and faithful to anyone or anything but himself.

My father announced ourarrangementat the end of last year, making a big scene at the final rugby game about the next generation of the Blackhurst Reynolds legacy, and I’m pretty sure Camden has slept with more people since that happened than he had before I was officially doomed.

Not that I care.

He can stick his dick anywhere he wants as long as it isn’t within ten thousand feet of me, I just figured he’d be more careful considering all of the attention he gets now.

Entitlement is a funny thing.

This asshole actually thinks he deserves to carry on our families’ hard earned legacies, that he should be able to run the empire, have all the money and power, and sleep with anyone he wants, all while I give him an heir to a throne I’d rather set on fire.

I think it’s because Evie’s the one who should actually be in charge, solely based on the fact that she’s a product of a Blackhurst and a Ridgeway, and he’s compensating.

Camden is older by four years, but he is what happens when someone like his dad isn’t careful about who he has affairs with because Carter was married and bound to Dolly for two years when mybetrothedwas dumped on their doorstep.

A minor indiscretion that gave him the son he knew he needed to keep things going, and it didn’t matter what that did to Dolly. It’s a miracle Evie was born after that, but heat is a bitch and sometimes we can’t help the way it plays out.

But the illegitimate love child of a Blackhurst, oftheBlackhurst wasn’t going to be forgotten, and Carter forced hisomega to adopt and raise him as her own after his biological mother conveniently disappeared.

Which is why I ended up with a life sentence.

Ideally, having a way to connect all three branches of the trifecta was preferred in order to strengthen the stupid empire created a million years ago. It would be perfect if Carter had his devil spawn with Dolly then waited to see what happened on the Reynolds’ side of things, but because that wasn’t the case, it was pretty vital they ruin my life by legally binding it to his. Camden will be linked to all three families and that’s all anyone cares about.

That and the fact that I do give him an heir.

And that means we have enough children to ensure he gets an alpha out of me, even better if they’re male because we’re still living in the dark ages, apparently, and females can’t run shit according to the current powers that be.

Well, except Donovan.

He’s an exception to every rule my dad and Carter try to follow, and that’s why I love that side of Eve’s family so much.

“Magnolia. Are you listening to me?”

I slowly lift my gaze from the poached egg I’ve massacred and blurt without thinking, “No.”

Camden frowns, trying to keep his cool despite the way I can see anger roll across his features.Thank god we’re in public.“Really?”

“Sorry.” I shrug one shoulder then go back to my plate of food he ordered for me. “I guess I’m a little distracted this morning.”

“It’s those monsters they have you working with, isn’t it?”

My eyes snap to his as I feel myself start to blush. “Pardon?”