Page 29 of My Horrible Arranged Marriage (Bancroft Billionaire Brothers #20)

MINA

I could’ve walked through the doors of the Duvall estate floating on air and no one would have been surprised. I waltzed into the foyer with my new bag filled with the results of my shopping spree in Vegas in one hand and my left hand extended, dramatically, like I was modeling for a Tiffany’s ad.

“Excuse me,” I said to Margot, who was arranging flowers in a giant glass vase by the entryway. “Does this ring make me look like a bride?”

She blinked at me. “Miss Duvall?—”

“Fiancée Duvall, thank you very much.”

A tiny, delighted smile spread across her face. “Congratulations, ma’am.”

“Ma’am! Margot, don’t make me feel ancient!” I laughed, twirling toward James, our chef, who was emerging from the kitchen. “James! Come see what your favorite heiress brought back from Las Vegas!”

He blinked, wiping his hands on his apron. “I hope it’s not another ferret. Or Elvis.”

“Even better.” I thrust my hand under his nose, the diamond winking in the light.

James let out a low whistle. “Well damn.”

I turned on my heel like a debutante. “I’m engaged. To a real man this time. I will get down the aisle this time around. And it will be my only wedding.”

“Miss Mina, that’s wonderful,” James said, and Margot nodded in agreement.

“Can I ask who the lucky man is?” Margot asked tentatively.

I couldn’t help but laugh. They probably thought I was crazy.

“Isaac Bancroft,” I announced.

They both looked surprised. I got it. They knew Isaac and I had been hanging out but I doubted they thought we would ever end up married.

“Congratulations,” James said.

“Where’s Tori?” I asked.

“In the kitchen,” Margot answered.

I left my new bag on the stairs. “I’ll take that up later. I have to tell Tori.”

I rushed through the foyer and into the kitchen. Tori looked up from her laptop, a spreadsheet open in front of her. Her eyes widened. “What’s wrong?” she asked jumping up. “What did he do? I swear…”

I held up my hand and wiggled my fingers to bring attention to the rock catching the light.

She frowned and then I thought she might pass out. “You didn’t,” she gasped.

“I did.”

“You’re married?”

I laughed. “Not yet. Engaged.”

“Holy shit,” she breathed, and then she screamed—one of those high-pitched, girlish squeals that echoed off the marble countertops.

We hugged, jumping up and down in a ridiculous little circle like we were teenagers again.

“I can’t believe it,” she said, pulling back to stare at the ring. “It’s gorgeous. Like, disgustingly gorgeous. God, I love rich people.”

“I am a rich person.”

“Exactly.” She flopped back onto the stool, still gaping. “So what happened? Tell me everything. Wait—no. Don’t. Wait. Yes. Tell me everything .”

I launched into the whole story. The helicopter. The picnic. The ring. The look in Isaac’s eyes when he told me he loved me.

“And I said yes. Just like that,” I finished, touching the ring with my other hand like I still didn’t believe it was real. “It’s stupid. And fast. And probably insane. But it felt right.”

Tori’s eyes were soft now, wide with affection. “I’ve never seen you like this.”

I shrugged, suddenly a little shy. “I’ve never been like this.”

“Well,” she said, sitting up straighter and pulling her laptop toward her. “This means one thing.”

“What?”

“We have a wedding to plan.”

I gasped. “Oh my God.”

“I’m talking florals. Linens. Music. A twelve-tier cake. I don’t care what Isaac thinks—we’re doing this full Duvall. ”

“Obviously.”

“Theme?”

“Excessive glamor.”

“Perfect.”

We were both laughing again, bubbling and giddy. I was halfway through describing my dream dress when I heard footsteps. A heavier stride, slower.

Tori’s smile faltered just slightly.

My stomach dropped. I didn’t need to turn around to know it was him. My father.

I hadn’t even texted him about the engagement. I didn’t tell him I went to Vegas. I remembered to text Tori late that first night, but I was wrapped up in the excitement.

Tori stood up and closed her laptop slowly.

I swallowed and turned toward the doorway just as my father stepped into view, his face unreadable. “Is everything okay?” he asked. “I thought I heard screaming.”

I had no idea what he was going to say. Would he be angry? He was the one that pushed me toward Isaac in the first place. He soured on him after the Sampson confrontation, but in my eyes, that should have made Isaac an even better choice. Isaac was the kind of man that would stand up for me.

“I was telling Tori my good news,” I said calmly.

“Good news?” he asked.

There was no point in trying to hide it. I held up my hand with my palm facing me and the diamond staring my father right between my eyes. In all the excitement and joy, I never considered my father’s reaction to the news. I knew I was happy and that was all I thought about.

And now it was time to face my father. I waited for the sigh. The shake of his head. I could practically hear him complaining. You’re being rash. This isn’t wise. You don’t know him well enough. He’s a Bancroft.

And I was ready to tell him too damn bad. I tried his way. I gave my heart to Sampson, the man my father approved of, and that had not worked out well for me. I was doing things my way now.

But instead of the lecture, he smiled. I could feel Tori standing just behind me, stiff as a statue. Or maybe I was the statue. It felt like there wasn’t any oxygen in the room.

“Well, I see Isaac made good use of your trip,” he said. “Fast, but I guess he’s a Bancroft. Certainly not the first one to make a hasty decision.”

I nodded. I still wasn’t sure which way this was going. “It is fast,” I agreed.

“But this is what you want?”

“Yes.” I nodded without hesitation.

“Okay. Good.”

I blinked. “You’re not mad?”

“Mad?” He stepped forward, leaned down, and pressed a kiss to my cheek. “Mina, I’m thrilled.”

Tori made a noise beside me that might’ve been a cough or a gasp or just confusion. I got it because I felt the same way. I was too afraid to believe it was real.

“You’re thrilled,” I repeated.

“I assumed something like this might happen,” he went on. “Isaac is a surprising young man. But not unwise. And neither are you. I had hoped you two would hit it off.”

I opened my mouth, then closed it. One of us was having a stroke.

After my father had Isaac thrown out of the party, he had made it pretty clear he wasn’t thrilled with the idea of me seeing him.

He didn’t come right out and forbid it, but I suspected he would have, given the opportunity. Apparently not.

He looked at my ring. “Beautiful. Did he pick it himself?”

“He did.”

“Smart choice. Understated but not modest. It suits you.”

I stared at him, completely dumbfounded. “You’re seriously okay with this?”

He met my eyes. “You’re happy. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

Which was rich, coming from the man who tried to orchestrate my entire love life like a Broadway musical with unlimited funding. But still, I nodded, stunned.

“We’ll make the formal announcement next week,” he said. “Have a statement ready. And let’s plan a proper engagement party. Here, of course. The press will want photos.”

I nodded again. Isaac had moved fast, asking me to marry him, but not as fast as my father was accepting the engagement. He was already charging full steam ahead.

He turned toward Tori. “Let’s make it lavish. Whatever Mina wants, she can have. We’ll spare no expense. My little girl only gets married once.”

“Absolutely,” Tori said, her voice a little high-pitched.

“And perhaps,” he added, his tone almost teasing, “we can find a use for those lime green tablecloths you chose for the summer party.”

Tori let out a nervous laugh. “We burned those.”

“Shame,” he said, his smile returning.

Then, as quickly as he’d appeared, he turned and walked out of the kitchen, his footsteps disappearing down the hallway like he had just commented on the weather.

I stared at the space he left behind.

“What the hell just happened?” Tori whispered. “Did I hit my head? Is this a weird dream?”

“I… don’t know.”

“You’re engaged.”

“I know.”

“And your dad didn’t yell. Or frown. Or try to bribe Isaac to disappear.”

“I know.” I turned to look at her. Her expression was exactly what I expected. I was just as shocked.

Tori stepped closer and gave me a hard hug, squealing again. “Whatever, this is amazing!”

I laughed, hugging her back. “It’s all actually happening,” I whispered.

“Sure is.” She pulled away and looked at me with stars in her eyes. “This is your fairytale. A wedding to a man you love. A man that is crazy about you… if not a little crazy in general.”

I nodded, smiling, but the edges of it faltered. Just for a second. Because under all the laughter and glitter, something in my gut tightened. Not in a bad way. Not even a fear-based way. But in a way that felt alert.

My father had reacted too calmly. Too perfectly. He threw Isaac out and made it clear he didn’t want me seeing him anymore. And now he was letting a whirlwind Vegas proposal slide without a blink?

It didn’t feel right.

But I forced the unease down. Pushed it deep. Because maybe he really was just happy for me. Maybe he was trying. Evolving. Supporting me in the way I’d always wanted.

Maybe he could surprise me, too. He wanted me married.

He liked the Bancroft family. Maybe he saw this as a win-win for all.

The Bancroft power and wealth would certainly complement the Duvall wealth.

It would make our union powerful. We’d be a force to be reckoned with.

I had a feeling that might be contributing to my father’s sudden acceptance.

I looked at the ring again, its sparkle catching the overhead light, and smiled.

Tori gave me another squeeze. “It doesn’t get better than this.”

“Tori, am I wrong to feel like his reaction might be a little… off?”

“Off?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” I said, frowning slightly. “He was pretty sour on Isaac after the party. And now he’s just fine with this? It feels too easy. Like he’s got some kind of angle.”

Tori tilted her head, considering. “Maybe he’s just realized he can’t control you. Or maybe he’s actually happy for you. You said it yourself—he wanted you married. So why wouldn’t he be supportive?”

“Not like this,” I muttered. “He wanted it on his terms. With someone he approved of. Someone like Sampson.”

“Isaac’s not Sampson,” Tori said firmly. “And your dad knows that. Maybe he’s finally seeing that Isaac’s good for you.”

I sighed, running my fingers over the ring. “Maybe. But it still feels weird.”

Tori gave me a sympathetic look. “Well, if it’s something important, you’ll find out eventually. Until then, just enjoy this, Mina. You’re engaged to a man you love. Allow yourself to be happy without second-guessing everything.”

I nodded, forcing a smile. She was right. I was probably overthinking it. My father had always been unpredictable, but maybe this time, he was genuinely trying to be supportive.

“So, have you thought about the wedding dress?” Tori asked.

“Exactly the opposite of my other one,” I retorted.

She laughed. “I see a lot of shopping in our future.”

“I’m going to put my bag away. I’m exhausted. Isaac was very… attentive. I didn’t get a lot of sleep the last couple of days.”

“Stop bragging,” she teased.

I grinned. “I got a good one and he’s amazing in bed.”

“Yeah, yeah,” she said. “Don’t rub it in.”

I walked out of the kitchen and up to my suite, but that nagging feeling in my gut wouldn’t go away. I tried to push it aside, focusing instead on the excitement of planning the wedding and the life I was about to build with Isaac.

But as I sat down on my bed, staring at the ring on my finger, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t quite right.