Chapter 7

I couldn't help laughing.

Callum frowned. "What's so funny?"

"Callum, you really think highly of yourself, don't you?"

His expression darkened.

"Excuse me?"

"Did I ever say I wanted my job back? And you expect me to apologize to Briar?" I shook my head. "She's not worth it."

Callum looked offended, but he quickly seemed to remember why he'd come.

He reached into his bag and pulled out an ivory envelope.

"Look. I brought you something."

He handed it to me.

Inside was a wedding invitation.

Our names were printed across the front in elegant lettering.

Maren Whitlock & Callum Voss

I stared at it.

"What is this supposed to mean?"

Callum sighed, as though I were making things unnecessarily difficult.

"It's our wedding invitation, Maren."

He gestured toward it.

"I've already booked the venue, arranged the favors, and invited the guests. Everything's taken care of."

I looked up.

"What?"

"We're getting married in three days."

He sounded almost proud of himself.

"I told you I'd make our relationship public. I'm keeping my promise."

I looked down at the invitation again.

For years, I'd asked him to set a wedding date.

He'd always had an excuse.

The company needed him.

He was too busy.

It wasn't the right time.

He'd had countless opportunities to marry me and acknowledge our relationship openly.

But he'd never taken any of them.

Now, when I no longer wanted him, he was finally offering me the wedding I'd once dreamed about.

And he was doing it to make me give in to Briar.

How ridiculous.

I handed the invitation back.

"Callum, I don't—"

He pushed it into my hand again.

"Just get ready. I'll pick you up in three days."

He didn't wait for my answer.

Instead, he turned and walked out.

I watched him leave, knowing he was going to be disappointed.

Because three days from now, I was scheduled to officially report to Asterion Group.

And this time, I wasn't giving up my career for Callum.

Shortly after he left, my phone buzzed.

A message from Briar.

Briar: I heard Callum's planning to marry you. Don't get too excited.

Another message appeared.

Briar: As long as I'm around, that wedding isn't happening.

Briar: Don't believe me? Just wait and see.

I stared at the messages for a moment.

Then I put my phone away.

Whatever she was planning, I wasn't interested.

Three days later, I finally understood what she'd meant.

That morning, I got dressed, did my makeup, and prepared to head to Asterion for my first official day.

I was just about to leave when I opened my front door and found Callum standing there.

He wore a perfectly pressed suit, his hair neatly styled.

Clearly, he'd put a great deal of effort into looking like a groom.

When he saw me, his eyes brightened.

"Well, look at you."

His gaze moved over my outfit and makeup.

"Glad to see you're ready."

I frowned.

Before I could say anything, he continued.

"Come on. The guests are already there. We're the only ones missing."

He reached for my hand.

I pulled away.

Then I took a sanitizing wipe from my bag and carefully cleaned my fingers.

Callum's expression immediately soured.

"Seriously, Maren?"

I didn't answer.

He stared at the wipe in my hand.

"What's that supposed to mean? Are you disgusted by me now?"

"Just a little particular about cleanliness."

His jaw tightened.

The irony wasn't lost on me.

Callum had always been obsessive about keeping things clean.

He hated anyone touching his belongings or using his personal things.

Yet Briar could sit in his office chair, touch whatever she pleased, and he never complained.

I put the wipe away.

Callum opened his mouth, apparently ready to argue.

But before he could speak, his phone rang.

He glanced at the screen.

Briar.

He answered immediately.

"Briar? What's wrong?"

I watched his expression change.

His brows drew together.

"What? How did that happen?"

He listened for a moment.

"Are you hurt?"

Another pause.

"Okay. Don't move."

When he hung up, he looked at me with an uncomfortable expression.

"Maren, something happened."

I waited.

"Briar fell down the stairs. She says she's hurt pretty badly."

I looked at him.

He hesitated.

"I need to take her to the hospital. I might not be able to drive you to the wedding venue."

Of course.

Briar again.

Every time Callum had to choose between us, he'd chosen her.

Even today, on the day he was supposedly going to marry me, nothing had changed.

But this time, I didn't feel hurt.

If anything, I was relieved.

I'd been worried he would insist on dragging me to the wedding.

Now Briar had given me the perfect excuse to leave.

I glanced at the time.

Nine thirty.

I was supposed to be at Asterion by ten.

If Callum kept standing here, I was going to be late.

I looked at him calmly.

"Then what are you waiting for? Go take her to the hospital. She could be seriously hurt."