Picture Perfect - Page 168

“Charges might not stick,” I finish for him, my stomach knotting at the thought. The legal system can be bought and Winthrops pay handsomely.

“Exactly.” Mason leans forward, elbows on his knees. “I don’t want you to worry about that now. We’ll keep fighting. I won’t stop until you’re free, Addy. You have my word.”

“Thank you,” I murmur, the sincerity of his promise piercing through the numbness.

He hesitates then, as if what he’s about to say weighs heavier than all the rest. “There’s something else.” He clears his throat, meets my gaze square on. “Rhett convinced William to sign a paper—”

“William?” I interrupt, incredulous. “How did Saint manage that?”

“Let’s just say Rhett has his ways.” A rare, fleeting smile touches Mason’s lips. “He’s signed a document stating you can marry. It’s our best shot, Addy. If you marry Rhett, you’re out of the Winthrops’ reach for good.”

The room tilts, the suggestion slamming into me like a physical blow. Marry Saint? Images flash through my mind: Saint’s dark curls, his guarded eyes that only softened when he looked at me sometimes. Could I bind myself to him, step into a future tethered to another person, one I no longer trusted, after fighting so hard for my own autonomy?

“Is there no other way?” My voice is a whisper, barely audible over the roar of conflicting emotions.

“None that puts distance between you and the Winthrops as decisively as this.” Mason’s voice is gentle, but it holds an edge of steel, a resolve born of battles fought and scars earned.

“Okay.”

I clutch at the soft blanket, my knuckles white, as Mason’s words echo in my head. Marry Saint. The notion stirs a tempest within me, anger and betrayal swirling with a cold sense of inevitability. I look away from Mason, focusing on the sterile white wall opposite me, trying to find some anchor in the storm.

“You don’t seem too happy about that. What changed?”

“I’m not exactly jumping for joy at the idea,” I mutter, the bitterness seeping through. My voice is a hollow sound in the too-quiet room. “I’m angry, Mason. So damn angry with all of them.”

Mason nods, his expression solemn. “I know, Addy. I’m sure you have every right to be.”

“Trust is shattered glass.” My gaze drifts to the IV line snaking into my arm, delivering who knows what into my weary veins. “Once it’s broken, you can never put it back together. Not without seeing the cracks.”

“Sometimes, though, those cracks can make something stronger, if they’re healed right.” His voice holds a quiet conviction that I wish I could share.

“Or they can cut deeper,” I counter, feeling the sharp edge of my own fractured trust. “They lied to me, kept things from me. How can I marry Saint when I don’t even know if I can ever look at him the same way again?”

“Addy, you’re not marrying trust. You’re marrying freedom.” Mason’s tone is firm now. “This is about you, not them. It’s your escape from the Winthrops. This isn’t another cage. You owe my nephew nothing. No matter how you feel about him, marrying him is your ticket out. The monthly allowance, the money for college, it’s all yours regardless.”

I let out a slow breath, letting his words sink in. Freedom. The word resonates within me like a bell tolling the end of an era. It’s what I’ve fought for, bled for—what I thought I’d found before the world turned dark around me. If marrying Saint means ripping the shackles off my wrists, then maybe it’s a price I’m willing to pay.

“Fine.” The word is a surrender and a battle cry all at once. “I’ll marry him.”

“Are you sure?” Mason’s eyes search mine, looking for any sign of doubt.

“Between marrying Saint and letting the Winthrops claim victory over me?” I push myself up slightly, defiance lighting my green eyes. “It’s no contest. They won’t win. Not this time.”

“Good.” Mason stands, a shadow of relief crossing his features. “I’ll make the arrangements. It’ll happen fast, before they realize what’s going on.”

“Fast is good.” I settle back against the pillow, a strange calm settling over me. “I just want this to be over.”

“Understood.” Mason heads toward the door, pausing with his hand on the knob. “You’re strong, Addy. Stronger than any of them. Remember that.”

As the door clicks shut behind him, leaving me alone with my thoughts, I can’t help but wonder if strength will be enough to carry me through the vows I’m about to take. But one thing is clear: I choose freedom, whatever form it takes, and I’ll walk down that aisle with my head held high, ready to step into a future where the Winthrops can’t touch me ever again.

Chapter seventy-four

Addy

The morning light creeps in, a pale intruder that I can’t fend off. My eyelids flutter, reluctantly giving way to the day. My limbs feel like they’re coming back from a long vacation, still not quite sure they belong attached to my body. There’s a stiffness in my joints, but the sharp pains that haunted me are now dull whispers.

If only the pain in my heart felt the same.