The Wrong Bride (The Windsors, #1)(26)

Dad inhales deeply, a hint of reluctance in his gaze. “I’m sorry, Raven. They won’t change their minds. This deal always entailed a marriage between Ares and you. The only reason they made an exception is because Hannah fell in love with him. She lifted the burden you were meant to carry, but it was always yours.”

My heart twists painfully, and I shake my head. “If I was always meant to marry him, she should’ve stayed away from him. You can’t expect me to marry my sister’s ex, Dad. You can’t do this to me. Do you understand how messed up this is? You can’t condemn me to a marriage with someone who is in love with my sister.”

Dad inhales shakily and looks to the side. “I’m sorry, Raven, but you have no choice. Throughout the years, we’ve relied a lot on the Windsors. If this merger were to fall through, it’d mean bankruptcy for us. If you want to keep your company and the investment funds I promised you, you’ll marry him.”

My eyes widen as disillusionment washes over me. “Are you threatening me?”

Dad sighs. “I’m not, Raven. I’m just telling you the truth. If you do not marry Ares, we’ll lose everything. Everything the Windsors have done for us… it would take me several lifetimes to repay that. Think through this carefully, sweetheart. He would treat you well, and the Windsors love you. It’s a small price to pay for everything we’ve been given, everything we stand to gain from this merger. Don’t forget, you marrying Ares means the company will fall into your hands, not Hannah’s. I will ensure it. You’ll inherit my shares, even if your mother gives hers to Hannah.”

I frown at him in disbelief. He can’t be serious, can he? He can’t truly think that this seems even remotely appealing to me. I grit my teeth and walk away, my heels clicking loudly on the marble floor.

I need to find Hannah. I don’t know what she’s thinking, but I refuse to take responsibility for her mess. I might love Ares, but I have no intention of accepting her sloppy seconds.





Chapter Sixteen





Raven





I pull up in front of Hannah’s apartment and walk straight in. Whenever something major happens, Hannah always hides away at home instead of facing the consequences of her actions. She looks up from her seat on the sofa, her eyes red.

I sigh as I take in the panda onesie she’s wearing and the popcorn on the table. Of course she’s watching The Notebook. Part of me sympathizes with her. The choice she made isn’t an easy one, and for her to do this a week before the wedding means she’s serious. It must have been heartbreaking, knowing she couldn’t have both her career and Ares.

“Raven.” She holds her arms up and I bite back a smile as I sit down next to her, giving in to her silent plea for a hug. I wrap my arms around her and rub her back as she rests her head on my shoulder. “I’m sorry,” she tells me. “I know how much time you put into this wedding, but I can’t do this. I can’t sacrifice my career, and even though I love Ares, I’m not willing to abide by his family’s suffocating rules for the rest of my life. I can’t live like that, Rave.”

I pull back to look at her, my gaze searching. Dad hasn’t told her, has he? “Hannah,” I murmur. “You have to do this. It’s too late to walk away now. There really is no going back anymore, Han. If you walk away now, that’s it. It’s the end of Ares and you. Do you really want that? I know you love him, and he worships the ground you walk on. I know he makes you happy, Han.”

She shakes her head. “I can’t, Rave. I really can’t. If I marry him, I’ll just end up resenting him for everything I’ll lose in the process.”

“Hannah.” My voice is soft yet chastising. “This isn’t just a love marriage, though. It’s an arranged marriage. Have you thought of what will happen to Mom and Dad? The company and everything we own? Without the Windsors’ support, we can’t survive.”

She wraps her arms around herself, a hint of insecurity in her gaze. “They won’t harm us. You know they won’t.”

I cross my arms and stare her down. “Grandma Anne came to the house today, Han. She insists that the wedding take place next week… with or without you. If you don’t do this, they’ll… they’ll make me marry him in your stead.”

Hannah’s eyes widen, and she falls silent. “You… you can’t be serious?”

I nod. “I am. Dad told me that if I don’t, I’ll lose my company and all the money he promised to invest in me. Grandma Anne warned him that she’ll pull away all support if this marriage falls through.”

She runs a hand through her hair. “They’re just trying to strong-arm me, Rave. They won’t actually make you do that. Besides, Ares wouldn’t ever agree to it. That’s sick.”

My heart clenches painfully even as I nod. Sick. Twisted. That’s probably what he thinks of this entire situation, too. “I’m not sure, Han. I don’t think they’re merely bluffing. Dad seemed worried, and I’ve never seen Grandma Anne look quite so serious.”

Hannah shakes her head. “Don’t worry,” she reassures me. “You won’t be forced to do anything, Rave. They won’t make you. They’re merely threatening us and using you to make me change my mind, but I won’t.”