Page 41 of Completely Captivated
“No, Jared.Not now,” Jen warned.“She’s in no shape to hear your declarations of love.”
“I’m not just going to let her run off, hurt, alone, and with no one to talk to about all of this.Maybe I can help her.”
File The Papers
Jared and Christasat in the swing under the gazebo in the family’s backyard.His arm was wrapped around her shoulder while her head was nestled into the crook of his shoulder.His fingers stroked her arm lovingly, lending his strength and shelter from the turbulent storm raging in her emotions.
“Let me get this straight.”The muscles in Jared’s jaw ticked from gritting his teeth so hard, but he kept the anger out of his voice when he spoke to her.She had more than enough pressure on her already.“They offered you ten million dollars, and you turned it down?”
“Yes.I don’t want their money.I don’t want anything from them at all.”
“I’m sure the prenuptial agreement protected him anyway, especially in the first few years.”
“We didn’t have a prenup.”
Jared stopped all movement—the swing, his fingers, his breathing.“You didn’t sign a prenup before you marriedAaron Rivers?”
“Nope.”
“Christa, you could get a lot more than ten million dollars, then.We could take half of everything from him, especially with how he’s treated you.Pretending not to remember the wedding when he carted you off to Vegas.I’ll represent you—and I won’t even charge you.Every dime will be yours.”Just the thought of taking Aaron Rivers down for what he and his brother did to Christa was payment enough for Jared.And he’d have a front row seat to watch Aaron crash and burn.
“No.”
“Christa, did you have any idea who this guy was before you ran off and married him?Didn’t you know what his business was?How much he’s worth?”
She sighed heavily, embarrassed to admit the truth.“No, Jared.I had no idea who he was, what he owned, or how much money he had.Evidently, I’m much less experienced than even I realized.I fell for everything—no questions, no proof, nothing.Everything he told me, I just believed it all was the truth.I’ve been to his condo.It’s nice, but it’s nowhere near as extravagant as your parents’ home or their vacation houses.
“Why would he want to marry me only to humiliate me like this?I’m nobody.I have nothing.I don’t understand this at all.”
“And you still don’t want to take him for half of everything he owns?”
“No.I really wish I could just make it all go away.”
Jared was silent for a moment, the wheels in his head turning at lightning speed.“If that’s what you want, we can file for an annulment before you sign their divorce papers.We can show fraud.It won’t hurt him financially, but the repercussion ripples could impact his business when it’s made public.They’ll question his integrity as a businessman.”
“I’m not trying to hurt him or his business.Just erase the fact that it ever happened and give my last name back to me.”
“Consider it done, sweetheart.I’ll take care of this mess, and I’ll take care of you.”
“So you’ll draw up the papers for annulment for me?”
“Of course.I’ll do it first thing in the morning and bring them by your place when I get off work.”
“Thank you.I appreciate your help, and you’re saving me from going back to their office.”
“You won’t ever go back there without me.That Lance guy sounds shady as fuck.”
“He is an asshole.Jared, I’m ready to go back to my apartment now.I’m just not good company today.Jen refused to let me drive, so can you give me a ride?”
“Of course.I’m ready when you are.”
After she thanked his parents and said goodbye to everyone, Jared dropped her off at her place with the promise she’d call him if she needed him for anything.She forced a smile as she closed the car door, then turned and trudged into the privacy of her apartment.
She dropped her keys on the side table and stopped dead in her tracks.The picture in the silver frame of her riding on Jared’s back had been replaced with the one from her date with Aaron in the park.He stood behind her with one arm wrapped around her waist, the field of wildflowers in bloom behind them, and expressions of sincere happiness on their faces.
“Was it all a lie?”She picked up the frame, held it to her chest, and walked to her bedroom.With her back against the door, she sank to the floor, hung her head, and cried.
When she awoke the next morning, she stood under the scalding water until she was ready to face the day.Her tears had dried despite the broken heart she still carried.Somehow, knowing an annulment rather than a divorce was in her future lightened her mood.She viewed it as she was expunging her record, wiping the slate clean and starting anew rather than leaving a permanent black spot as evidence of what might have been.
