Marry Me Instead

10

Chapter 10 — The Countermove

Evelyn looked at the engagement invitation on the table. Six days. That was how long her father had given her before expecting her to stand beside Arthur Morrison and smile for the cameras. She picked up the card. Then tore it cleanly in half. Sebastian watched the pieces fall onto the table.

“We’re going.”

His gaze lifted from the documents in front of him.

“To the engagement banquet?”

“Yes.”

“You understand whose engagement they’re celebrating.”

“Mine.”

Her voice held no hesitation. Sebastian leaned back in his chair.

“Why attend?”

“Because refusing gives my father control.”

She placed the torn invitation on the table.

“If I don’t show up, he’ll tell the press I accepted Arthur’s proposal. If I attend, I can make it clear that he made a decision without me.”

Sebastian studied her.

“You’ve already decided.”

“I have.”

“And you didn’t ask what I thought.”

Evelyn raised an eyebrow.

“You wanted an equal.”

A faint pause.

“An equal doesn’t need permission to make decisions about her own life.”

Sebastian’s expression remained composed.

“Fair.”

She pulled the marriage agreement toward her.

“I’ve read the contract.”

“All of it?”

“Twice.”

“And?”

“I’m satisfied with the terms.”

She closed the folder.

“I’ll marry you.”

The words were simple. No trembling voice. No hesitation. Sebastian gave a single nod.

“Then we’re agreed.”

Evelyn looked at him.

“That’s it?”

“What were you expecting?”

“I don’t know. A dramatic speech.”

“I don’t make dramatic speeches.”

“I’ve noticed.”

A faint flicker appeared in his eyes. Almost amusement. It disappeared quickly. Evelyn stood and walked toward the windows.

“There’s something I need to understand.”

“Arthur.”

She turned.

“Why is my father so determined to marry me to him?”

Sebastian rose from his chair.

“The Morrison family controls Morrison International Logistics.”

“I know.”

“Do you know how much of Sinclair Group’s current expansion depends on them?”

Evelyn’s expression tightened.

“European distribution.”

“Among other things.”

Sebastian walked toward the table and opened a file.

“Three major shipping routes. Two international warehouses. Exclusive freight agreements covering several of Sinclair’s fastest-growing markets.”

Evelyn scanned the documents. Her father’s strategy became obvious.

“If I marry Arthur, Richard gets access to their network.”

“And favorable terms.”

“And if I refuse?”

“The Morrison family can withdraw those agreements.”

Evelyn looked up.

“Which would hurt Sinclair Group.”

“Severely.”

She lowered her eyes to the papers. So that was the real reason. Not love. Not concern for her future. Not even Arthur. Business. Her marriage was another transaction. Sebastian watched her carefully.

“There’s more.”

Evelyn looked up.

“Hawthorne Capital has been purchasing shares in several companies connected to Morrison International.”

Her eyes narrowed.

“You’ve been moving against them.”

“Strategically.”

“And you knew my father was negotiating with them.”

“Yes.”

“How long?”

“Long enough.”

She stared at him.

“You knew.”

“I suspected the alliance was coming.”

“And you didn’t tell me.”

“You weren’t my partner yet.”

The answer was reasonable. She still didn’t like it.

“That’s going to have to change.”

Sebastian’s gaze met hers.

“It will.”

Evelyn closed the file.

“So if I marry you, I become the wife of the man currently positioning himself against the family my father is trying to strengthen.”

“Correct.”

“And the Morrison family will consider us a threat.”

“Probably.”

“My father will consider you an enemy.”

“He already does.”

“The Hawthorne family will hate the idea.”

“They already hate most things I do.”

Evelyn exhaled.

“You’re making this sound very simple.”

“It isn’t.”

“Good.”

She looked at him.

“I’d be disappointed if it were.”

Sebastian’s gaze remained on her for a moment. Then he picked up his phone.

“We’ll need legal counsel.”

“For the marriage?”

“For everything.”

He made a call.

“Daniel.”

A voice answered on the other end.

“Yes?”

“Prepare the final marriage agreement.”

A pause.

“Are we proceeding?”

Sebastian glanced toward Evelyn.

“Yes.”

Evelyn watched him end the call. Something about hearing him say it aloud made the situation feel more real. This wasn’t an idea anymore. They were actually going to get married. Her phone vibrated. She glanced down. Another post from Sophia. A photograph of Sophia and Arthur at a charity event from several months ago.

The caption read:

Some relationships are complicated. Sometimes the people we love deserve happiness, even when the situation isn’t easy.

Evelyn stared at it.

The comments were already flooding in.

Sophia is so mature.

She’s still defending her sister.

I hope Evelyn doesn’t make this harder for her.

Arthur and Sophia deserve happiness.

Evelyn locked her phone.

Sebastian noticed.

“Sophia?”

“Yes.”

“What did she do?”

“Nothing.”

He waited.

“That’s the problem.”

Evelyn placed her phone on the table.

“She doesn’t need to attack me.”

“She only needs to make everyone believe she’s trying to protect me.”

Sebastian considered that.

“Then don’t respond.”

“I wasn’t planning to.”

“Good.”

She glanced at him.

“You agree with me?”

“On this.”

“That’s surprisingly easy.”

“I don’t disagree for entertainment.”

Evelyn smiled.

“Could’ve fooled me.”

Her phone rang.

Richard. She declined the call. Seconds later, it rang again. She declined it again. Then a message appeared.

Your presence at the banquet is mandatory.

Evelyn stared at the screen. Sebastian noticed the change in her expression.

“What did he say?”

She handed him the phone. He read the message.

Then returned it.

“He’s trying to force your hand.”

“He’s already done that.”

Evelyn slipped the phone into her bag.

“He’s just forgotten that I have hands too.”

Sebastian’s eyes held hers.

“What do you intend to do?”

Evelyn picked up her coat.

“We’re attending the banquet.”

Sebastian nodded.

“Then we’ll need to make an appearance together.”

“Not enough.”

He paused.

Evelyn looked at him.

“If we’re going to walk into that room…”

“We need to make sure nobody can pretend they don’t understand what they’re seeing.”

Sebastian’s expression sharpened.

“You want to announce the marriage.”

“I want to announce it before my father announces my engagement.”

A quiet beat passed. Sebastian reached for his coat.

“Then we’ll attend your engagement banquet.”

Evelyn looked at him.

“As what?”

Sebastian’s gaze settled on hers.

“As husband and wife.”

The words hung between them. Six days before the banquet. And they hadn’t even married yet. Evelyn stared at Sebastian.

“As husband and wife.”

He had said it so calmly that it took her a moment to process what he’d actually suggested.

“We’d have to be married before the banquet.”

“Yes.”

“Which gives us six days.”

“Five, if we want time to prepare.”

Evelyn folded her arms.

“You’ve already thought about this.”

“I’ve thought about several possibilities.”

“Of course you have.”

Sebastian ignored the remark.

“The legal process can be completed quickly. The public announcement is more complicated.”

“We don’t announce it until the marriage is official.”

“Agreed.”

Evelyn considered the idea.

Once the announcement went public, there would be no taking it back. The Sinclair family would be forced to deal with her decision. The Hawthorne family would be forced to acknowledge Sebastian. And Arthur Morrison would have to watch his engagement banquet turn into something else entirely.

“What happens to the Morrison alliance?” she asked.

Sebastian’s expression hardened slightly.

“That’s the question your father should have considered before deciding your future.”

“If I marry you, Morrison International could withdraw from Sinclair Group.”

“They could.”

“Could?”

“The Morrison family has too much invested in Sinclair’s European expansion to walk away without consequences.”

Evelyn’s eyes narrowed.

“You’ve studied their position.”

“Extensively.”

“Then you know my father is taking a risk.”

“He’s taking several.”

Sebastian opened the file on his desk.

“Morrison International has outstanding financing tied to two Sinclair projects. If the alliance collapses, both companies take a hit.”

Evelyn moved closer.

“So Richard can’t afford a public war.”

“Not immediately.”

She scanned the figures.

“What about the board?”

“Your father has enough support to keep control.”

“Enough?”

“Not unanimous.”

Evelyn looked at him.

“Who is against him?”

“Three major shareholders.”

“And you’re buying their shares?”

“Not directly.”

She gave him a knowing look.

“Of course.”

Sebastian closed the file.

“You’ve already figured out the important part.”

“You make it difficult not to.”

The corner of his mouth lifted.

“That’s useful.”

“Don’t sound so pleased with yourself.”

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

“I assure you—”

His phone rang.

Sebastian answered.

“Daniel.”

He listened. His expression changed.

“What happened?”

Sebastian ended the call.

“Arthur Morrison has made a move.”

“What kind?”

“He’s filed a proposal to acquire twelve percent of Sinclair Group’s publicly traded shares.”

Evelyn went still.

“Twelve?”

“Yes.”

“That’s aggressive.”

“It’s meant to be.”

She immediately reached for the file.

“How much does the Sinclair family currently control?”

“Thirty-eight percent.”

“If Arthur gets twelve…”

“His family becomes one of the largest external shareholders.”

Evelyn’s mind moved quickly.

“And Richard would have to answer to him.”

“Exactly.”

She looked at the numbers again.

“This isn’t an engagement.”

“No.”

“It’s a takeover strategy.”

Sebastian watched her.

“Now you understand why the marriage matters.”

Evelyn closed the file.

“Arthur doesn’t want me.”

“No.”

“He wants Sinclair Group.”

“Yes.”

The realization settled heavily. Her former fiancé hadn’t simply chosen Sophia over her. The marriage had always been connected to a larger strategy. And perhaps Sophia knew more than she’d let anyone believe.

Evelyn picked up her phone.

“I need to call Amelia.”

Sebastian nodded.

She walked toward the window and made the call.

“Amelia.”

Her friend’s voice came through immediately.

“Evelyn, where have you been? The entire company is talking.”

“I need the latest shareholder report.”

“Why?”

“Arthur Morrison is trying to acquire twelve percent.”

“You’re joking.”

“I’m not.”

“Give me five minutes.”

The call ended. Evelyn lowered the phone. Sebastian was watching her.

“You trust her.”

“Completely.”

“You don’t trust many people.”

Evelyn glanced at him.

“Neither do you.”

His expression went still. She hadn’t meant it as an accusation. But something about the way he looked away told her she’d touched something deeper. His phone buzzed again. This time, he ignored it.

Evelyn noticed.

“You’re not answering?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because I know who it is.”

“Who?”

“My father.”

She waited. Sebastian didn’t elaborate. He simply slipped the phone into his pocket. The controlled expression returned. Evelyn studied him. There was a story there. One he wasn’t ready to tell. She didn’t push. Not yet. Her own phone vibrated. Amelia had sent the report. Evelyn opened it. Her eyes narrowed.

“Sebastian.”

He came over. She turned the screen toward him.

“Look at the purchasing pattern.”

He studied the numbers.

Then looked at her.

“The shares were bought through three shell companies.”

“Yes.”

“They’re connected.”

“Exactly.”

Evelyn zoomed in.

“Someone has been accumulating Sinclair shares for months.”

Sebastian’s eyes hardened.

“And Arthur’s acquisition isn’t the beginning.”

“It’s the final step.”

Neither spoke. Someone had been preparing for this long before yesterday’s wedding. The marriage between Evelyn and Arthur may have been part of the plan.

And now…Their sudden alliance had just disrupted it. Sebastian took the phone from her.

“Send this to Daniel.”

Evelyn nodded.

“And don’t tell anyone else.”

“Agreed.”

He handed the phone back. Then his gaze shifted toward the city beyond the windows.

“We’re not walking into that banquet to embarrass your father.”

Evelyn looked at him.

“No.”

Sebastian’s voice was quiet.

“We’re walking in because someone has been preparing to take your family’s company.”

Evelyn’s expression hardened.

“And we’re going to find out who.”

Sebastian looked at her.

“Together.”

She nodded.

“Together.”

Neither of them noticed the notification that appeared on Evelyn’s phone. A new message. From an unknown number.

You should never have chosen Sebastian Hawthorne.

Beneath it was a photograph. Evelyn opened it. Her face went still. The photograph showed Sebastian standing beside a man she had never seen before. Taken years ago. Before his exile from the Hawthorne family.

And across the bottom of the image was a single sentence:

Ask him what really happened that night.