Page 126 of Theirs for the Holidays

It’s interesting, watching her digest that. Andrew would never in a million years shield anybody from an oncoming car with his body. It wouldn’t even occur to him to do it. More likely, he would get himself out of the way and then be standing there looking silly when Isabelle got hit.

Maybe Isabelle is starting to realize that Andrew isn’t the catch she thought he was. He’s got certain things going for him,but when compared with his brothers, it’s hard not to notice all the things he lacks.

He’s nowhere near as protective and thoughtful as they are, and it must be hard to see that in real time.

Either way, I can’t really feel too bad about it. Isabelle did just swoop in and snatch up Andrew as soon as we had broken up. Whatever happens because of that is on her.

I zone out a little while Andrew talks to his brothers, and when I look up, Isabelle has come to stand in front of me.

“Can I talk to you for a minute?” she asks. “In private?”

“Oh. Sure?” I can’t think what she could want to talk about, unless it’s got something to do with the wedding and more favors she wants from me. But it’s more likely that she would have just announced that in front of everyone so she could have the attention back on her.

We get up and go into the kitchen, leaving the four men in the living room.

“What’s up?” I ask, hoping she’ll get to the point quickly.

“So, I found out something interesting,” she says, a weird smile on her face. “Did you know Grandma wanted to give me the building your bakery is in?”

I freeze, already not liking the way this is going. “Yes,” I say slowly. “But you didn’t show any interest in it, so she left it to me instead.”

“Right, but the thing is, the building was actually put into my name.”

“What?”

“She left it to you, but legally, it’s mine.”

My blood runs cold. “What are you talking about, Isabelle?”

She smiles and pulls a document out of her purse. “See here?”

I scan it quickly, and my stomach drops out when I see that she’s right. Apparently our grandmother didn’t transfer thebuilding out of her name after she changed her mind about giving the business to Isabelle.

“You… you didn’t want it,” I tell her. “You had no interest in it.”

“That was then, Violet. I’ve grown up since then.” She gives me a sad little smile. “I know you’ve made it your own now, but it’s really not fair for you to keep something from me that was supposed to be mine, is it?”

“Supposed to beyours?” My voice rises a little, and I know I sound borderline hysterical, but I really can’t believe this is happening.

Isabelle just nods. “I mean, if you think about it, it’s kind of perfect, right? I’m getting married, and it’s the perfect time to start my own business. Maybe I’ll even ask you for some tips.” She laughs, like it’s an absurd thing to say.

She keeps chattering on about it, talking about all the different things she could do, but her voice has faded into a background hum. All I can really hear is my blood rushing in my ears as my heart pounds.

My breathing comes faster and faster, but it feels like I’m not getting any air at all.

Everything I’ve worked for. Everything I’ve built on my own, with no help from my family, about to be ripped away from me because of a technicality. If my grandmother were still alive, she could fix this, but she’s gone. The only member of my family that I could trust is dead, and my dreams are about to be buried right alongside her.

I desperately gulp for air, staggering away from Isabelle.

“Please, stop!” I gasp. “Oh my god.”

“Violet?” I hear one of the guys call my name.

All of them come into the kitchen, and immediately Lennox, Rhett, and Sawyer can tell something’s wrong.

Andrew rolls his eyes. “Oh wow, it’s been a while since I’ve seen a Violet freak out. I thought maybe you had finally chilled out.” He looks at his brothers. “She likes to overreact to things. It’s not a big deal.”

“I don’t think you get to decide what’s a big deal to her,” Lennox snaps. “And if that’s how you act when someone you used to care about is clearly in distress, then I feel bad for your future wife.”