Page 50 of My Horrible Arranged Marriage (Bancroft Billionaire Brothers #20)

ISAAC

I stared at my reflection in the mirror, adjusting my cufflinks for the third time even though they didn’t need adjusting.

The suite Hectar had offered for me to get ready in was ornate, all dark wood and polished marble.

I had been to the Duvall estate a few times, but I mostly stayed downstairs or in Mina’s apartment.

The place was huge. I thought I heard the butler tell me there was something like twenty-six rooms.

Several of the wedding guests were occupying those rooms. The room I was in now would be used tomorrow for me to get ready for the wedding.

I wouldn’t say I was nervous. Not really. I did have some thoughts about the idea of marrying anyone. It was hard to believe it was me that was actually walking down the aisle. That was not something I ever saw in my future.

I looked sharp in the new tailored Ralph Lauren suit. That’s what everyone kept saying. But I didn’t feel sharp. I felt like a liar in a tailored suit.

The knot in my stomach hadn’t loosened in days.

If anything, it had grown heavier, tighter, like it was carving out a permanent space behind my ribs.

Tomorrow, I was marrying Mina. Tomorrow, I would vow to love and protect her for the rest of my life.

We were going to tell each other how much we loved and trusted each other.

And it was going to be lies.

I wanted the marriage to work. It had to work because I knew there was no way I could live without her in my life. I was certain I could explain the situation and make her understand in a way that she would still love me. She wouldn’t leave me.

But if she found out in some stupid tabloid article, it would destroy her.

It would make her think she couldn’t trust me.

I was pretty sure the marriage was going to go off without any drama.

Tonight was the rehearsal dinner. Tomorrow was the wedding.

It was unlikely anyone was going to publish a story between now and then.

But it felt wrong. The longer I kept it from her, the more it felt like I was stealing a choice from her. Mina had a right to know everything before we said our vows.

I dragged a hand down my face, glancing toward the door. I couldn’t do this. Not without telling her first. If she still wanted to marry me after I laid it all bare, I’d consider myself the luckiest bastard alive. But if she didn’t… if she walked away...

So be it.

She deserved the truth. All of it. I loved her too much not to be completely honest with her.

I opened the door and looked up and down the hallway. It was easy to get lost in a place like this. Her bedroom was on the opposite side of the massive house. It took me a second to get my bearings and then I was on my way. My chest felt like it was being squeezed in a vise.

I had to find her. Tell her. Own up.

But I barely made it ten feet before I collided with Hectar Duvall himself.

He stopped short, then grinned, clapping a firm hand on my shoulder. “There he is. The groom. Damn, Isaac, you almost knocked me down.”

I swallowed past the tightening in my throat, forcing a smile I didn’t feel. “I wasn’t looking where I was going.”

His gaze swept over me, satisfied. “You know, I’ve got to admit, I had my doubts in the beginning.

Hell, I had my doubts right up until a few weeks ago.

But watching you with Mina… watching how she’s changed?

You’ve been good for her. That girl needed someone to believe in her.

She needed someone solid. And I think she found that in you. ”

His hand lingered on my shoulder a second longer, a rare moment of sincerity in his typically guarded expression. “So thank you. For being who she needed. Although I think you might be the one to thank me.”

“Excuse me?”

“Hell, this was my idea.” He chuckled.

I stared at him, at the man who’d orchestrated all of this like a goddamn puppet master. The man who’d strong-armed me into this in the first place. I wanted to shake him. Yell. Ask him why he ever thought this was a good idea. But the words died in my throat.

Because for all his faults, Hectar loved his daughter.

And somewhere along the line, I had fallen in love with her as well.

“Yeah, I guess I should thank you,” I managed, my voice rough. “She’s everything.”

“Yes, she is,” he said. There was emotion in his voice.

“I only ever wanted her happy. I know you think I’m an asshole for what I proposed in the beginning, but you have to know I did it for her.

I hated seeing her miserable. It killed me.

She’s always talked about having a family.

That girl has never really been the type to dream about a big career.

She’s always known she was going to be a mother and a wife. If?—”

“Don’t say it,” I stopped him. “Don’t say I should walk away after she has my child. It’s never going to happen. That was never part of the deal.”

He nodded once. “Good.”

He disappeared down the hall. I stood there alone, the moment gone, my resolve unraveling. I would tell her later.

I took a couple deep breaths and made my way to the grand staircase. I could hear the sound of voices downstairs. The rehearsal dinner was going to include a lot of my family, but not all. Her side would include a few of her father’s closest friends.

I stepped into the living room, the hum of conversation washing over me like a wave.

The room was packed. There were Bancrofts everywhere.

My brothers were scattered around, some lounging on the plush sofas, others standing in small clusters with drinks in hand.

Hayes was by the fireplace, deep in conversation with Zayn, their voices low but animated.

Kent was holding court near the bar, his laugh booming as he regaled a group of cousins with what I could only assume was an exaggerated story about one of his many misadventures.

Hudson stood off to the side, his usual stoic self with a sparkling water in hand. He was watching the room like a hawk.

The moment I walked in, all eyes turned to me. It wasn’t subtle. Conversations paused mid-sentence, and for a split second, the room felt eerily quiet. Then, as if someone had flipped a switch, the noise returned tenfold.

“There he is!” Kent shouted, raising his glass in my direction. “The man of the hour! Or should I say, the man of tomorrow?”

“Shut up, Kent,” Hayes muttered, though there was a smirk tugging at his lips.

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face. “Don’t you have a drink to spill somewhere?”

Kent feigned offense, clutching his chest dramatically. “You wound me, brother. And here I thought you’d appreciate my support on your big day.”

“Your support is appreciated,” I said dryly. “Your commentary? Not so much.”

He laughed, slinging an arm around my shoulders.

Everyone was dressed to the nines, buzzing with excitement.

Smiling. Laughing. My dad and Kathy seemed to be holding themselves away from the rest of the party.

I could tell Kathy was not pleased. But I prayed she kept her mouth shut and just let things happen.

Mina walked in and looked radiant as always. Her soft blue dress hugged her frame, her hair loosely curled and pinned to one side, exposing the elegant slope of her neck. When she saw me, she smiled at me like I was her whole world.

I was starting to realize how badly I wanted to live up to that. I walked to her immediately, pulling her into my arms and holding her close.

We made our way to the dining room. Small speeches were made, toasts clinked. People said things like “match made in heaven” and “finally settling down.”

I watched Mina through all of it. She barely touched her glass of wine. Not once. Just smiled politely, lifting it occasionally but never drinking. Did she not feel like celebrating?

“You okay?” I asked as we stepped to the side, away from the center of attention for a moment.

She looked up at me, her eyes warm. “I’m great. I just want to be fully present tonight. No buzz, no blur. Just this. And I don’t want to be puffy tomorrow.”

I nodded, pressing a kiss to her temple. “That’s fair. Puffy or not, you’re beautiful.”

A little while later, I noticed Kathy off to the side with Hudson and Kent. They were deep in conversation, faces tight with tension. Not a good sign.

I made my way over slowly, catching the tail end of Kent’s voice.

“—just look at him,” he said, gesturing vaguely in my direction. “I mean, Isaac is clearly in love with the girl, and she’s clearly in love with him, too. What’s the harm?”

I stopped short.

Hudson scoffed. “The harm is that it started as a lie. He never told her. He’s marrying her tomorrow, and she still doesn’t know the truth.”

Kathy’s expression was unreadable. Kent noticed me first and straightened.

“Well, shit,” he muttered under his breath.

I crossed my arms. “You’re really going to talk about this here ? Now ?”

Hudson turned toward me, shrugging. “You think we’d be talking about it at the wedding? Bit late by then, don’t you think?”

“I’m going to tell her,” I said through clenched teeth. “I was going to tell her.”

“When?” Hudson demanded. “After the cake cutting? During your vows? Your fifth wedding anniversary?”

“I said I’m going to tell her.”

Kent sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Look, I’m not defending the secrecy, but the fact is, the guy is in love. And so is she. We’ve all seen the shit Isaac has pulled. This—” He gestured around us. “—this isn’t one of those stunts. He means it.”

Hudson didn’t respond. Just shook his head and stalked off into the crowd, muttering something I couldn’t quite hear.

“I’ll talk to him,” Kent muttered. “Make sure he doesn’t cause a scene tomorrow.”

“Thanks,” I said quietly.

When Kent turned away, I was left alone with Kathy. Her expression was pinched, jaw tight.

“I’m going to tell her,” I repeated, softer this time. “I promise.”

She studied me for a long moment, then tilted her head. “If you don’t tell her tonight, it’s too late.”

Then she walked away.

I stood there, the sounds of laughter and music swirling around me.

“Hey,” Mina said, putting her hand on my arm.

I turned and found Mina beside me, slipping her fingers through mine.

“You okay?” she asked gently. “You look like you’re somewhere else.”

I opened my mouth. Closed it.

Everything inside me screamed, Tell her. Tell her now.

But I couldn’t. Not here. Not with her smiling at me like that.

“Yeah,” I said eventually, forcing a smile that didn’t reach my eyes. “Everything’s fine.”

She leaned into me, resting her head on my shoulder for a moment. “I can’t wait for tomorrow.”

I pulled my hand from hers. Not harshly. Not enough for anyone else to notice. But she did.

She looked up with concern in her eyes. “Isaac?”

I couldn’t meet her eyes. “I just need a second,” I said.

She nodded, clearly confused, but gave me space. She always did.

And I hated myself for it.

Tomorrow, she’d walk down that aisle believing she had the whole story. I didn’t know if I’d ever forgive myself for it.