Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 98398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
“Who has looked it over? She is a legal secretary. She could have snuck something in. This entire wedding is a sham and cannot happen.”
“I wrote the prenup myself,” I called out. “It states if we divorce, she gets it all.”
There was some sick pleasure in watching my mother’s face pale and then turn a deep red in fury.
The whole situation was improved even more when Marksen rolled his eyes, reached into his jacket, pulled out his wallet, and handed Luc a stack of cash.
“She has tricked you into doing that. She has seduced you! She is a con woman and needs to be in jail. She is—”
“Madam, this is a private affair. Get out of my courtroom,” Judge Thomas ordered.
“You can’t make me. Do you know who I am?” she screamed.
Sabrina stood and walked toward my mother with a creepy smile. She just kept walking toward her with her arm outstretched, her finger dripping something red.
Mary Quinn Astrid backed away for a moment, then knowing her Chanel suit would be ruined, pressed past Sabrina, who left a massive red smear over her stark white jacket.
“You bitch.” Mary’s hand reached out to slap Sabrina, who just stared her down. I didn’t think anyone had ever faced my mother and not flinched.
My father grabbed her wrist to stay her hand.
“I am holding you in contempt of court.” The judge banged his gavel, and the bailiff put her in cuffs.
It was the funniest fucking thing I had ever seen and the best damn wedding present I could have gotten.
We watched her be carted off, then Judge Thomas looked at Sabrina and asked what was on her hand.
She held it up, still covered in red gloop, and licked her finger. “Ketchup.” She smiled.
I couldn’t help it. I started laughing. Genuinely laughing, hard enough I doubled over. It took a second, but soon, everyone joined in laughing at the sheer ridiculousness of the entire situation.
My father and I were still discussing the ramifications of what my mother had done and if it was better to handle it publicly or in-house. Neither of our concerns included my mother’s reputation but rather how she would spin the story and use it to slander Eddie.
I’d been a prominent figure even before I took public office, which meant any blood in the water, and the reporters would come swarming. I didn’t want Eddie to have to deal with that.
But I wasn’t prepared to let my mother get away with her meddling either.
That was a problem for later. Today was about watching my mother get arrested for causing a scene and legally binding myself to my partner.
It may have been wrong for me to enjoy the spectacle as much as I did. But I never claimed to be perfect.
“Now, where were we?” Judge Thomas asked, and I turned my gaze back to the only woman who ever mattered.
“I’m still not signing that bullshit prenup,” Eddie said firmly.
“You should. I’m loaded.”
She rolled her eyes at me and smiled.
“Can we speed this along?” I asked. “You have a murder trial to finish, and I would really like to get to my honeymoon.”
Judge Thomas laughed. And did the abbreviated version of the vows.
“Do you, Harrison Phillip Astrid, take Edwina Morgan Carmichael to be your lawful wedded wife?”
“I do,” I said, and a warmth spread through my chest as I smiled down at my Eddie.
“And are you, Edwina Morgan Carmichael, really sure you want to do this?” the judge asked, and I shot him a dirty look. He shot a shit-eating grin back at me. “Seriously, you can still sign that prenup and take everything.”
“I am absolutely positive,” she said, pulling my attention back to her.
“Well, if you insist. By the power vested in me by the State of New York, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride, then get the fuck out of my courtroom. I have more important shit to do.”
I laced my fingers in her hair before pulling her into an earth-shattering kiss. Our friends and family cheered and followed close behind as I picked her up and carried her out of the courtroom.
“What now?” she asked.
“Now, you and the ball and chain are coming with us to celebrate this happy occasion with dinner and a few drinks while we welcome you into the family,” my father said.
“What do you say?” I asked Eddie. “You up for a small family dinner with your new ball and chain?”
“That depends. Will your mother be there?”
“Absolutely not,” my father answered for me, then turned to Sabrina and asked if she would like to join.
“Sure, where are we going?” she asked, wiping the last of the ketchup from her fingers with a wet wipe before tucking her arm through Eddie’s as soon as I set her down.
“I made reservations at The Grid if that is okay.”