Chapter 20
No one spoke.
Atleast Not immediately.
The words hung there, heavy and unreal.
“I’m sorry,” Lucas said finally, his voice sharp. “You want who p>
Zane didn’t repeat himself. He didn’t need to. He was still looking at me, calm as ever, like he hadn’t just dropped a match into a room full of gasoline.
I felt every pair of eyes turn toward me. Ivy’s. My brothers’.Even my grandfather’s, though his was slower, more measured.
“I think there’s been a misunderstanding,” my grandfather said. His tone was controlled, but there was an edge to it now. “The arrangement was for Ivy p>
“I know,” Zane replied. “That was the arrangement p>
Noah pushed off the bookshelf. “You don’t just walk in here and change the rules p>
Zane finally looked away from me and turned his attention to Noah. “I can. And I just did p>
Lucas stood up.
The chair scraped loudly against the floor. “You don’t get to say her name like that,” he said. “Not in this house p>
Zane’s gaze shifted back to him. The air between them tightened instantly, like something old and ugly had just woken up.
“Sit down, Lucas,” my grandfather warned.
Lucas didn’t. “You think this is funny?” he demanded. “You come here, stir this up, and expect us to just sit through it p>
Zane’s mouth twitched. Not a smile. Something colder. “I don’t expect anything from you p>
That did it.
Lucas took a step forward, fists clenched. Noah moved without thinking, grabbing his arm and pulling him back. “Don’t,” he said under his breath. “Not here p>
Caleb stood too, positioning himself slightly in front of Ivy without making it obvious. “Maybe we should all take a breath,” he said. “Because this feels like it’s about to go sideways p>
I was still sitting.
Still quiet.
Still staring at Zane like if I looked away, this would somehow become less real.
My grandfather turned to me. “Elaine,” he said. “Did you know about this p>
I swallowed. My throat felt dry. “No p>
It wasn’t a lie. I hadn’t known he would say it like this. Out loud. In front of everyone. With no hesitation.
Zane spoke again. “But she did propose the idea p>
Every head snapped back to him.
“What?” Ivy said softly.
Lucas’s head whipped toward me. “Elaine p>
My pulse was loud in my ears. I stood slowly, my legs steady even though my chest felt tight. “I did propose to him marrying me, in place of ivy” I said carefully.
Zane tilted his head slightly. “You agreed to marry me p>
“That was to protect Ivy,” I shot back. “You knew that p>
“And this protects her,” he replied evenly. “More than pretending I ever intended to marry her in the first place p>
Ivy looked between us, confused and pale. “Elaine p>
I reached for her hand without looking. “It’s okay,” I said quietly. “I promise p>
Lucas laughed once, sharp and humorless. “This is unbelievable p>
“Is it?” Zane asked. “Or is it just inconvenient p>
Lucas lunged forward again. This time Noah and Caleb both grabbed him.
“Let go of me,” Lucas snapped.
“Not a chance,” Caleb said. “You punch him and Grandpa will have a stroke p>
My grandfather slammed his cane against the floor. “Enough p>
The room stilled.
He looked at Zane. “You came here knowing this would cause chaos p>
“Yes,” Zane said. “I came here knowing it would p>
“And you believe this is acceptable p>
“I believe it’s necessary p>
My grandfather’s gaze returned to me. “Elaine,” he said again, softer now. “Is this what you want p>
Every instinct in my body screamed no.