Chapter 30

Mason

As dessert is served, the ballroom becomes a mix of people mingling, eating, and dancing. The band’s in full swing. My face hurts because I’m marrying the woman of my dreams and can’t be happier about it.

Damnit, I can’t believe she asked me first.

I had this whole elaborate plan in place for later.

“We could fly out to Vegas tonight if you want.” The faster we’re married, the better. I want Leah to be my wife immediately. It feels insufferable waiting this long. I get that most people take their time when it comes to a commitment like marriage, but I’m a fast-moving man who’s never dragged my feet before. When I know I want something, I take it.

I’ve wanted Leah since the instant I saw her in those whiskers, singing into her mop.

She’s the one for me. I know it with my whole soul.

“What? No.” Leah shakes her head. “I want a beach wedding.”

“Let’s fly to the Virgin Islands tonight.” I pull out my cell to start the process. “How long does it take to get a marriage license? Never mind, it doesn’t matter.” I drop into my chair. “We can just stay a month or two.”

“Oh my god.” She face-palms herself. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Vacay?” Gage asks.

“Leah’s proposed. I’ve said yes.” I swear to God, I could fly to the moon right now. “Is this what it feels like to win the World Series? Because I’m pretty sure this this is how it feels. Bases loaded. Bottom of the ninth. And I’ve just hit the grand slam.”

Landon and Grace drop into chairs beside us, both flushed and out of breath. “What did we miss?”

“We’re getting married.” I grab Leah’s hand and kiss it.

“ Mason .” Grace’s eyes are huge.

“Grace.” I shoot back. But then guilt slaps me. She doesn’t have this luxury. Flaunting it only hurts her more and though my little sister is a brat most times, I want her happy. “Say you’ll come to the wedding.” I keep my upbeat energy rolling because I will not back down from this.

“Of course.” Her brow pinches together as if the thought of not being there hurts. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” She stands up and looks shaky. Then she slaps on her cheery expression and acts all bright and bubbly as she kisses Leah’s cheek and gives her a genuine smile. But it falters a little when she looks at me. “I’m really, really happy for you, Mase.” A tear falls down her cheek and my gut twists.

“Grace!” I call out as she walks away from us in a hurry.

Ignoring me, my sister disappears into the crowd.

The band stops playing, making all the chatter louder.

“At this time, I would like to make a few announcements,” Scarlet says from the stage. The noise dies down, and everyone turns to her. “My goodness, I’m just so excited.” She touches her cheek. “First, a round of applause to you all. Your generosity knows no bounds.” Everyone claps for a few seconds. “The silent auction has ended, and we have raised another two-hundred-seventeen thousand dollars!”

More clapping.

“Nicole, please come back up here.” Scarlet covers the microphone with her hand and says something to the singer of the band.

My instincts go on high alert.

Looking around, I see my brother climbing the steps on stage right while Nicole climbs them on stage left.

Leah tenses next to me. “Why does this feel like that part of a horror movie right before acid rains from the sprinklers in the ceiling?”

“Tonight is a very, very special night indeed.” Scarlet looks out at the crowd. “Tom, please come up here to help me share this incredible news.”

My father strolls up, reluctantly.

I’ve gone the whole night without seeing or speaking to him. His hair is slicked back, making the white hair by his temples stand out against his dark black hair. He’s got his lucky bowtie on. With a scowl, he climbs the steps. He hates attention on him. And my father is, by far, the most docile man I’ve ever known. It’s probably why he and my mother work so well.

Confusion wars with amusement on Nicole’s face, but it’s my brother who has me ready to bolt from my seat. What the hell is going on here?

“It has just been shared with me that my dear son Jackson…” Scarlet takes his hand, “and our beloved Nicole…” She snags her hand too, “are getting married!”

Nicole looks like the rug was just pulled out from under her. Beneath the riotous applause where everyone stands and cheers, I watch Nicole say, “No, no, no.”

Jackson pulls her into his arms and says something only she can hear. Nicole presses her hands against his chest and tries to shove him away.

“This is painful to watch.” Landon’s tone isn’t playful at all.

With a tight smile, Jackson backs off Nicole.

Fury boils out of me.

They do not belong together. It’s a match made in Hell.

I may not like my brother most days, but he deserves real love and happiness, just like the rest of us in this nightmare. Nicole’s expression says it all. She’s mortified and trapped. Their marriage was announced publicly. Stopping it will turn into a scandal for the tabloids to feast on. Her reputation will be destroyed instead of my brother’s. My mother would make sure of it.

“What do we do?” Leah asks. “She looks like she’s going to pass out.”

Nicole’s stoicism disintegrates. All color leaves her face. I think she’s going to faint.

“We’re so happy to have you as part of our family, Nicole.” Scarlet announces. “The Greystones and Finches have been friends for so long. My heart is filled with joy.”

“Ticker,” Nicole says quickly. “ Ticker .” She snatches the microphone and clutches it with both hands while Jackson tries to snatch it from her. “TICKER!”

I’m out of my chair in a flash.

Bolting towards the stage, I get two steps up the stairs before Carmichael jumps in front of me. “Sit back down, Mason.”

I don’t hesitate. Fist clenched, I clock him in the jaw, sending him sprawling. Fury propels me up the steps. “Enough.”

Grabbing Nicole’s shoulder, I guide her over to the stairs where Leah and Kerrington are waiting.

“What are you doing?” Scarlet sneers. “Mason, get off the stage.”

“How about you get off your high horse.” I snag the microphone from her and throw it on the dance floor, breaking it. “Look at you.”

Stuttering, she points at the back of the ballroom. “Get out.”

“Oh, I’m leaving. Trust me. I’ve been counting down the minutes since I stepped into the hotel.” I stalk towards her. “But not before I’ve had my say.”

“Son, this isn’t the time for—”

“He’s not our son !” Scarlet shouts at my father. “He’s dead to us.”

“He looks alive to me.” My dad walks past her and straight to me. “And he’s still my son.”

“Thomas.”

“Scarlet.” He shoves his hands in his pockets. “You’re making a fool of yourself right now.”

Her cheeks are as red as her name implies.

“You are the most selfish fucking prick in the family,” Jackson snaps at me. “You didn’t want her. And now that I get her, you want her back? Typical Mason. Always wants, always gets, gets, gets.”

I can tell he’s been drinking. I also know what my brother sounds like when he’s scared. To the rest of the world, he might sound like a manchild, but I know better. I grew up in the same house he did. I know what happens when one of us disobeys orders or embarrasses an authority figure in the house.

“That’s right,” I say cautiously. “I am selfish. I want a lot of things, and I’m not afraid to go after them.” Flicking my gaze to Scarlet, I add, “No matter the cost.”

“Let’s take this conversation somewhere private.” My dad tries ushering his wife off the stage and fails.

“You’re a disgrace ,” she says to me. “A disappointment to the family name.”

Her words don’t affect me. Not anymore. “I can live with that.”

Whatever she’s about to say next must wedge in her throat.

“What I can’t live with is being tied to someone I don’t love. To be indebted to a family who I didn’t choose.”

Scarlet’s eyes widen with indignation. “How dare you!”

“Money isn’t everything, Mother.” I point to Leah, who’s escorting Nicole towards the lobby. “See that woman back there? She’s worth more to me than every dime the Finch family could ever make. She’s fucking priceless to me.”

She cackles. “That bitch isn’t worth the toilet cleaner she uses to scrub the shit off your porcelain.”

“Jesus, Scarlet.” Tom steps back from her.

“What? I’m only stating facts, Tom. She’s nothing. She’s worth nothing. She’ll always be nothing . If Mason would have just done what he was told and married Nicole, none of this would be an issue and I wouldn’t look like the bad guy here. But of course, it’s all my fault. Everything is always my fault.”

I lean in and get inches from her face. “If the Jimmy Choo fits.”

A hand brushes my shoulder, and I look over to see Leah.

She’s come back to me.

Holy hell, she’s on this stage, in the middle of this nightmare, and I want to shield her from all the vile, toxic vitriol my mother is spitting. “Wait for me outside.”

“I’m not leaving you.” Her words are so firm, I know there’s no persuading her otherwise. “I’m right where I belong.”

I’m speechless.

“Everyone deserves love,” Leah calmly says. “I’m sorry if that wasn’t a priority for you, Scarlet. Maybe you didn’t have a choice, just like you tried to take the choice away from Mason, and for that, I’m also sorry. But don’t do this to your kids. You said you’ve been friends with the Greystone family for forever. Are you really willing to match Nicole and Jackson?”

Scarlet looks like she was just slapped in the face with a cold fish. “This is none of your concern, girl. This is Finch family business.”

“I’m not family anymore,” I shoot back. “You disowned me.”

“You did that to yourself,” Scarlet huffs.

“Yeah, I did. And I have zero regrets.” I shake my head. “What are you going to do, Scarlet?” She flinches when I call her by name. “When Grace is matched with someone who hates her. Or worse .”

She knows what I mean. We once housed the wife of a senator who beat her so badly, she had to have plastic surgery to fix her bone structure. After recovering, she went back to the monster out of obligation. My mother cried her eyes out every night for a month over it because that woman had been her best friend. I heard mom once say to Grace, who was only thirteen at the time, that her and Dad might not love each other like the couples in the movies Grace was obsessed with, but he never hit her so, that’s good enough. She said Grace should hope to find a man as gentle as her father and count her blessings.

It made me sick to hear it.

“We’ve only ever wanted you to be happy, son.”

“He’s. Not. Our. Son.” Scarlet steps back. “Leave now, before I call security and have them drag you out."

“Think of the publicity that will get you,” I say at her empty threat.

“Mason,” my dad frowns. “Maybe you should—”

“Is this my life or yours?” I stare down at my mother. “Answer me. Is this life I’m living mine or yours?”

The fact that she can’t quickly answer is answer enough.

“I’m not property to own. I’m not a stock to trade. I’m not a chip to bargain with. I made my own success and I’ll live my life how I see fit. Maybe one day, you’ll be happy for me. Maybe you never will. But you’ve lost me.” I stare at her, unblinking. “Don’t lose Grace and Jackson, too.”

Holding Leah’s hand, I slip past my brother and leave.

All eyes are on us. The night is completely ruined. I never wanted the game to go this far. There is no winner here. Maybe that’s a lesson I had to learn so I can move forward.

I eventually find my friends standing guard by a restroom door. “Nicole in there?”

“Yeah,” Landon says. “And she’s a fucking mess.”

“Let me talk to her.” Leah lets go of my clammy hand and pushes the door open.

Once it shuts, the adrenaline pumping in my veins starts fading and exhaustions sets in.

Landon’s eyebrows shoot up to his hairline. “Think we’re blacklisted now?”

Kerrington is the first to laugh, and it thaws some of the ice forming in my veins.

Running a hand through my hair, the tightness in my chest lifts a little. “Yeah. I think that did it.”

The bridges are burning. It’s over.