CHRISTIAN
"Daddy, I want ice cream," Lizzy whines from on top of my lap, both of her tiny hands cupping my cheeks so my attention stays on her.
I force a smile that feels more like a grimace. "After we… find you a mummy, then ice cream."
I try as much as possible to make the words sound like they don't taste sour in my mouth. On the other hand, Lizzy giggles.
"Aunt Vally is going to be my mummy!" she announces excitedly, bouncing on my lap.
Any pretense of pleasantness evaporates from my face. Where the hell is she? I check my Rolex. Ten minutes to the marriage and she's not here. Well, I wouldn't be here either if my father hadn't forced me into this.
Valerie's father, Mr. William Jacob, was my father's childhood best friend who'd rekindled their friendship three months ago. Unfortunately, Father is the kind to make unethical decisions when it comes to his companions, so he hired Valerie as Lizzy's nanny.
Lizzy is far more valuable than my companies, so it was hard watching a stranger take care of my daughter—especially one who looks like she's sunshine fallen straight from the sky.
While Lizzy grew very fond of her, Valerie only seemed to tick a nerve in me. Nothing screams sycophant more than her. Otherwise, why would she accept my father's request to marry me, knowing fully well that I don't like her?
"Oh, Lizzy!"
And speak of the devil. Valerie comes rushing over, dressed in a black velvet body-fit dress with long black gloves, her hair twisted neatly into a bun.
I almost can't pull my gaze off her as she takes Lizzy from me and kisses her entire face.
I swallow hard, my body clenching. This is the first time I've seen her in anything other than the rags she normally wore, caked with excessive makeup.
Is this Valerie, or am I hallucinating?
Her grey, metallic eyes smile my way. "Hello, Christian."
"Valerie." I acknowledge her and rise to my feet, forcing my expression into stoic unreadability.
"Is your father here yet? I'd love to speak with him." She enquires.
"He's in a meeting right now, so he won't be here." I notice her expression flatten.
I'm sure she must have been expecting a wild, elaborate wedding. I've been married once to a woman like her, so it isn't a hard guess.
"All we need is to get our signatures on the paper, Valerie. Whether my father is here or not doesn't matter."
Cracking my knuckles, I watch as she shrugs into a nonchalant smile.
"You're right, but I just wanted to thank him for the privilege of being a part of his family." She looks at Lizzy and rubs noses with her. "I can't wait to be the mother of your child, Christian."
Every shred of tolerance I'd managed to muster for her shatters into a thousand pieces.
There it is. The sycophantic groveling I expected. Privilege. She doesn't want a family; she wants the name and the bank account.
She must have lost her mind. The fact that Tessa is dead and I'm marrying her does not—and never will—make her the mother of my child.
I'll make sure to turn this marriage into misery for both of us and expose the fraud she is to my father.
Soon, the time arrives. I stare down at the paper before me in the courtroom. Valerie doesn't waste a second signing hers.
I'd spent six years of my life enduring a terrible wife. I tried to fix our relationship despite how many times she cheated. I tried so hard not to let Lizzy notice how insane I was becoming. Finally, it was over. The car accident ended everything.
I don't know what this woman is capable of becoming. Lizzy is the biggest part of me, and now I'm giving this stranger access to her.
"Christian," Valerie whispers, her eyes horribly anxious. "Sign it already."
My grip on the pen tightens. I exhale deeply, shutting my eyes for a second.
I swear, if this woman ever harms my child, I'll make sure she goes through hell for the rest of her life.
Leaning down, I scrawl my signature across the page. I don't wait for the marriage to be finalized before storming out of the courtroom.