Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 121871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Because it had to be Nick.
I’d been married to Murray for two weeks and every day I’d been waiting for Nick to find out and then reach out to threaten me.
Instead of a voicemail, a message flashed on the screen. And another. And another. And another. And another.
All from a number I didn’t have saved on my phone.
You think you don’t belong to me because you married one of those morons from Bumfuck Island?
He thinks he can touch what’s mine?
He touches you again and you’re both dead.
Maybe I’ll come for his daughter first.
Don’t get comfortable. Someone will be investigating this sham of a fucking marriage very soon.
Trembling with the rush of adrenaline that soared through my blood, I stumbled back onto the bed, my fingers hovering over the screen.
The instant urge to call Nee was strangled by my pride.
I’d promised myself that I would deal with Nick.
Nee was pregnant and didn’t need this stress.
Murray had enough stress to last a lifetime.
No.
I had to handle this alone. I had to prove to myself that I could take care of this asshole.
I screenshot his text messages and then blocked him.
Pulling my knees up to my chest, I considered his threats. So he’d looked into Murray. It didn’t mean he had the authority to have our marriage investigated. And if it did … so what?! No one could prove that Murray and I weren’t married for real.
Right?
My fingers itched with the urge to google how people who married for visas were investigated, but I knew that would be utterly stupid, considering they’d probably search our computers.
Murray and I just needed to get to know each other better and we could do that. I’d bring it up the next time we had a second alone.
Nick wouldn’t win this.
No way.
I was done being afraid of him.
At least … I was trying to be less afraid of him.
One day I would succeed.
I would.
I had to.
That sorry excuse for a man did not get to win.
18. Murray
Iwas fucking dumfungled. I’d barely slept a wink and … everything was a mess.
While I made Kelly French toast last night, she’d suggested London and I no longer needed to be married, now that we had enough proof against Jill for sole custody. I’d tried to explain that we’d get in trouble if it looked like we’d married just to get Jill off the company’s books and Kelly had forlornly nodded in understanding. I’d felt at once guilty for letting her down again and guilty for not explaining how much London needed this marriage too. But it was not my story to tell, and frankly, I didn’t want Kelly’s head filled with any more darkness. It was bad enough my fourteen-year-old was strategizing her guardianship like a war general.
I’d gotten up early, checked on Kelly, saw she was out for the count, and then ventured upstairs to find London had already departed. She must have left before it was even light outside. It was only when I checked my phone that I realized London had sent a text explaining she’d left early to catch up on work at the B and B, but I knew she was trying to give me and Kelly space.
I felt shite for her too. I hated the idea of London feeling like she wasn’t wanted.
Mum showed up an hour later to look after Kelly so I could go into the office to meet this thug who had infiltrated my company.
“Where’s London?” Mum asked as we walked into the empty kitchen. “Murray, you said I could properly meet this woman you’ve married and she’s not even living here?”
“She is,” I’d assured Mum as I made her a cup of tea. “She had to leave early to make up for missing work yesterday.”
Mum harrumphed under her breath. “Well, I’m staying for dinner tonight so I can have a proper conversation with her.”
I handed her the tea. “She might not show. Kelly … Kelly made it clear that she doesn’t trust anyone but you and me, and while she understands why London’s here, London isn’t welcome.”
“Kelly did that?” Mum looked horrified. “Our Kelly?”
“Aye. You can’t blame her. She’s been through hell with Jill. The fact that she’s kept on a brave face and a sweet disposition for this long is a miracle. She’s finally snapped and I won’t reprimand her for that. I just … I wish she hadn’t chosen London as an easy target.”
“No matter what a child has gone through, it doesn’t give them the right to treat people unkindly.” Mum was stern. “You don’t let her get away with it. She’s pushing boundaries because Jill put none in place and it’s your job to treat her normally. If she behaves badly, there are consequences.”
“Not today there aren’t.”
“Murray Shaw, I might not be happy with your decision to marry a woman you barely know. But what’s done is done. And when you decided to marry London, you invited her into your home. She is now your responsibility. You can’t let Kelly chase her out of what is now her home too, no matter what Kelly’s been through.”