Page 114 of Vows We Never Made

Just like Margot says, this sham marriage thing isn’trealand I’d better get that lodged in my brain, front and center.

He’s only going through with it because six months down the line, we’ll go our merry ways.

As for the sex—well, that’s just it.

Sex.

A freakishly good romp to relieve tension and stress while we’re stuck with make-believe.

That doesn’t mean there’s anything more.

Leonidas couldn’t have predicted it would go this way if he forced us together. The old man was eccentric, but he wasn’t a raving lunatic.

When we were teenagers, we sure weren’t magnetic, and it had nothing to do with the age gap.

We hated each other.

I would’ve rather licked the beach for an hour than gotten a crush on Ethan.

But why me? Why did he make his grandson choosemeof all people?

There’s no good reason for him to think we would be perfect for each other.

Because Margot’s right, and we’re not.

We move in very different circles. Our lives couldn’t be more different.

And when this is over, he’ll want a woman who matches his brains and money and violent good looks.

I’m totally not her, even if a tiny part of me wishes I could be.

“Maybe he did it because he sees you as part of the family brand. I think he wanted to teach Ethan a lesson. Something about life he couldn’t teach in the office,” she says eventually. “Imean, our families have been close forever, so it kind of makes sense. A big public marriage forces Ethan to shape up and take things seriously, even if it’s all for show.”

“Could be,” I say.

“You know he’s wanted Ethan to step up for ages. When he decided to come back and dive into the family business, PopPop was thrilled.” Margot shrugs, bumping her shoulder against mine. “I think this is his way of making Ethan a man. One more test he couldn’t deliver while he was still alive.”

“Hmmm, yeah.”

But I’m not sure.

Ethan doesn’t strike me as the selfish, immature bully he was before—and what could he really learn from a sham marriage?

Talk about heavy handed.

I mean, it’s possible. It’s a better explanation than anything I’ve come up with.

We’ll probably never know what he was thinking unless he reaches out through a psychic or a Ouija board. So basically never.

I just can’t quite believe Leonidas would go this drastic.

He knew his grandson better than anyone, and from what I know, he was proud of Ethan for stepping up to carry on his legacy before he died.

There must be more to it than just family branding and a bizarre way to emotionally manipulate Ethan into being responsible.

I just can’t figure out his motive, and it could mean everything for deciphering the rest of this craziness.

The sun glowslike a flaming pumpkin when I meet Ethan at Leonidas’ old estate.