“Am I to marry you and reduce the person I love to my secret lover? Is he to be the despised scandal?” I scoffed at Tobey in disgust.
“I think that’s a little extreme, Ms. Tanner. Besides, you missed my point entirely. What we’re doing is going to benefit both of us. After we get what we want, we can always get a divorce. You need to learn how to fully utilize all the resources available to you. Being stubborn won’t get you anywhere. Trust me.”
Tobey seemed to be irritated by my words because the smile on his face had vanished. “Do you actually think someone as aggressive as your mother would let you back out of this? You didn’t think she would just let this go, did you?”
In response, I narrowed my eyes at the man before sneering, “Maybe you don’t have a code, but I do. Some things are worth standing your ground for. And that’s my mother you’re talking about. Do you think she’s going to do anything that would hurt her own daughter? If you’re looking for an arranged marriage, I’m afraid that you’ve come to the wrong person, pal. I will never consider an arranged marriage, and I couldn’t care less about inheriting the Goldstein fortune. Do you hear me?”
“A typical woman. You have eyes for nothing but love. How boring, stupid, and unattractive of you.” If nothing else, the way Tobey acted as if he knew it all made me sick.
“What use is a man who couldn’t protect the one he loves? You treated her like she was your mistress. That, to me, is a useless man.”
Suddenly, a familiar voice came from behind me. After turning to see Christopher with Dylan in hand, I skipped over excitedly to the two. “Why are you here?”
“We just happened to be having our Thanksgiving dinner here too.” Christopher gave me a warm smile before pulling up a chair next to Tobey. He then raised a brow at the man and asked provokingly, “So, Mr. Osborn, any comments? Do you think I have a point?”
Seemingly offended, Tobey’s eyes hardened and narrowed into slits as he glared at Christopher. “I think that’s quite an exaggeration, Mr. Lane. Besides, this is between Eve and me. An outsider like you should refrain yourself from meddling in other people’s business.”
“Outsider?” Christopher and I exchanged looks before laughing out loud together.
“This here is my aunt. She’s already married to Uncle Christopher. Don’t you know that? It seems like you’re the outsider here, mister,” stated Dylan as he pointed at Tobey.
“You’re only a child, so what do you know? Be quiet when the adults are talking.” Tobey tried his best to pretend like he was not embarrassed. “Even if I don’t interest you, Ms. Tanner, there’s no need to come up with such a cheap lie.”
After roping me in with his arm, Christopher cupped my face in his hands and brazenly gave me a wet kiss. Regardless of how many people were watching us, we had the longest kiss before Christopher finally let go of me and turned back to Tobey. “I meant every word I said, and I never joke when it comes to my wife. I take her as seriously as I do to all those who would dare pester my wife.”
I shrugged my shoulders casually at the surprised man before adding, “I guess my mother didn’t tell you the whole story, huh? I’ve been married to Chris for a while now. Our marriage is just short of a wedding ceremony. You may not have realized it, but you’re actually asking me to break my marriage vow when you proposed to marry me.”
“What!” Unable to stay seated any longer, Tobey slapped on the table and jumped to his feet.
At the end of the day, I knew my mother was to be blamed for the misunderstanding, so I apologized to the man. “I’m sorry, but that is the truth. I have no idea what kind of a deal my mother has struck with you or what projects you two are working on, but I cannot marry you. Period. If you ask me, I think you should marry the woman who stuck by your side no matter how bad things got. That’s the kind of person you’d want to spend the rest of your life with. She deserves to marry you when you have everything, not live a life separate from yours like a mistress. That’s all I have to say, and I hope you sleep on my advice. I’m sure someone like you is not short of money, but the right life partner only comes once in a while. Don’t miss it.”
After finishing my sentence, I froze for a while. It was because I realized that I had just told Tobey exactly what Lyle said to me.
