Til Debt Do Us Part (Married At Midnight #4)

Chapter 22

Twenty-Two

Talia

T he sun is setting over Harwicke as we pull into town. I take a deep breath as the familiar sights of my hometown come into view. Even after what felt like a lifetime away, Harwicke feels just as homey and comforting as it ever did.

Dare's hand finds mine, his grip reassuringly strong. We both know our honeymoon is officially over and soon we will be entering a world of obligations and expectations that are so vastly different from what we experienced this past week.

I glance sidelong at Dare, who looks just as somber as me in the fading light. We haven't spoken about what this means for us—but that doesn't mean that I don't know what he's thinking; after all, we managed to build an unlikely connection over the past week that I don't think either of us expected.

We drive up the long driveway to Blythe Manor in silence, Dare's grip on my hand never loosening. As soon as the car stops, he turns towards me with an intent look on his face. His eyes search mine intently before he finally speaks up.

"Talia," He says softly, "I know it was never meant to be real between us, but…" he pauses and takes a deep breath before continuing "That doesn't mean there can't be something here."

I swallow thickly, my heart pounding in my chest and fear threatening to overwhelm me. What if I'm wishing for something that can never truly exist?

Taking a risk and hoping for the best, I reach out to touch his cheek hesitantly with my free hand. The warmth radiating from him also fills me with courage and hope and I force myself to keep looking into his eyes even though my cheeks are flushing red.

"Maybe," I whisper out loud before pulling away slightly to break the intensity of our gaze. I can't quite bring myself to say the words out loud, but Dare seems to understand me nonetheless. His hand gives mine a reassuring squeeze before he steps out of the car.

I follow his lead, stepping out of the car and hearing the chauffeur's low murmur of greeting. I can still feel Dare's hand around mine, but I don't have time to react as he leads me towards the front door of the manor. The house is gorgeous, like something out of a fairy tale. It has a sprawling front lawn that looks like it hasn't been cut in decades. The house itself is ivy-covered, the bricks a pale shade of red, the shutters and trim a faded white.

The estate is a sprawling, palatial mansion with a horseshoe staircase leading up to a multi-story glass atrium. The stairs and surrounding landings have wrought iron railings. The mansion is surrounded with a white picket fence and the front door is surrounded by a few stone statues of Greek Gods.

We enter the Morgan estate, and I can hardly keep my hands from trembling. I force myself to remember the bodyguards Frick and Frack are just behind us, that Dare is here with me, looking out for me. But it's hard to shake off the memories of the last time I was here—when Burn cornered me in a secret passageway and tried to kill me.

My heart is pounding as we make our way deeper into the manor. Here, everything is clean and fresh and new, from the hardwood floors to the bold modern sculptures. I hesitate as we approach the entrance. "What’s wrong?” Dare asked. "I don't know if I can go inside that house," I reply, my voice barely audible. He smiles and it chills me to the bone. It reminds me of the glint of a dagger just before it slashes and stabs. "I dare someone to fuck with you tonight. I hope Burn pulls some shit so I can beat the fuck out of him in front of Remy and the rest of the clan." He catches my hand, kisses my palm, and then starts pulling me toward the house with an almost manic cheer. "Come on, darling girl, let’s go."

Dare does not let go of me as we make our way up the stairs, and I'm not about to stop him. We enter the house and are immediately immersed in a large number of people, all dressed in immaculate suits and little black dresses. It is, after all, a cocktail party.

People are dancing slowly and swaying under twinkling lights. Black, white, and gray is standard, but an occasional color highlights a woman’s dress or a man’s tie. Men and women stand in small groups, laughing and chatting with each other. They drink from glasses of ice water and hold trays of appetizers, like sushi, proffered on white china plates.

I smell expensive perfume and cologne wafting from the crowd, the sweet floral notes of scents mingling together in a fog of alcohol and excess. Eau de cologne and perfume, leather and alcohol, and sweat.

It's impossible to escape the pounding rhythm of drum and bass filling the air as people sway along to the music. The babble of hundreds of voices permeates the air.

"Here we go," Dare says softly, gesturing for me to walk ahead of him through the well-dressed crowd of people. I take a deep breath before beginning my descent into the unknown darkness below us.

We make our way through the crowd and enter a larger, more formal room. I gasp in awe as I take in the ornate décor that surrounds us. Velvet drapes hang from the walls and dyed silk pillows are scattered on plush couches. I notice a few of Remy Morgan's billionaire cronies are here, along with the entire extended Morgan family. I see Burn, Daisy, and Dare's father, Tripp. The only person missing is Dare's uncle Felix.

No doubt he's skulking in the shadows somewhere just out of sight.

The room suddenly falls silent as Remy makes his entrance. He is an elderly man, white-haired and wearing a tuxedo. He has the same piercing blue eyes as my husband and uses them to skewer people. People duck out of his way as he cuts a tunnel into the room, unperturbed by the sudden hush that has fallen upon the partygoers.

Remy soon walks right up to us. "The prodigal son returns. The last I heard, you were spending your honeymoon down at St. Barts."

"Happy Birthday, old man." Dare says, ignoring Remy's taunts. He pats Remy on the arm and then slides his hand around my waist.

Remy pins me with his icy gaze. He puckers his lips and I'm sure that he's about to say something about my pregnancy. But then he just flicks me a smile and turns away to greet someone else who has just arrived at the party.

"Remy! How are you this fine evening?" Burn shakes Remy's hand with both of his, pasting on the fakest smile I've ever seen.

Burn is suave and charming as usual but I notice a hint of malice behind each word he speaks to Remy. It causes Dare's grip on my arm to tighten almost imperceptibly, like warning me not to trust this guy one bit.

Like I need Dare to remind me of that, I think.

As they exchange words it almost feels like they're on opposite ends of a battlefield - both trying desperately not to let their anger show while maintaining their composure and dignity in front of everyone else attending the party.

Dare whispers in my ear as we watch them cautiously size each other up: "I dare him to fuck with me tonight." His words send a shiver down my spine - I can sense the raw intensity beneath them. Smoothing down my black silk dress, I turn my face upward to him for a kiss. Dare gives me a peck on the lips, his eyes never leaving his brother.

Damn, that usually works as a good distraction.

That's when Remy starts moving. He floats through the room and a ripple of people move back to get out of his way. He's wearing a cruel smile.

He looks like a walking corpse, but he's surprisingly agile for someone in his eighties. His skin is wrinkled and looks like crumpled paper. His lips are dried and cracked, making it look like he hasn't had water in days.

His white hair is thinning from the top; his blue eyes are half-lidded, looking at me through a layer of cataracts.

I'm not fooled for a second by his appearance, though. I know there is a dangerous predator underneath the cardigans and the thick horn-rimmed glasses. He's one of the calculating men I've ever met, with a knack for sniffing out opportunities and exploiting them to his advantage.

I can see the calculating gleam in Remy's eye as he sees Dare and Burn. They're pieces on a chessboard to him, and each of his moves is carefully thought out. Not to mention his venomous speech is as toxic as a superfund site.

One of Remy’s cronies strolls into his path and shakes his hand. Remy's friend is plump and bald, dressed in a jacket with tails and a pair of matching slacks. He throws his arm around Remy and wheezes into his face. I can smell the booze on his breath from way over here.

I can feel the tension leak away from Dare's body as he sees his grandfather turn away. It makes me wonder if Dare even realizes how Remy affects him. It's not a positive relationship, that's for sure.

"Hey." I kiss Dare on the cheek, drawing his attention away from Remy. "I'm here with you. Okay?"

His lips turn upward at the corners and something sparkles in his eyes. He brings my hand up to his mouth and kisses my palm. "I know, darling girl."

But I only have his attention for a moment longer, because Tristen elbows his way through the crowd toward us. He looks as debonaire as always, his designer tux stylish, his rakish blonde locks swept carefully back. Tristen approaches with a swagger, his eyes taking in the scene.

Dare stands tall, pushing back his shoulders. "Tristen. What are you doing here?"

"Hey," Tristen greets Dare casually. "I thought I would come and see the newlyweds. It looks like your honeymoon was good." His eyes slide away to take in the room full of people, a smug smirk on his face.

"It was... eventful," Dare replies. "I don't want to get into it here."

Tristen shrugs, looking around the room again. "I'll just enjoy your grandfather's hospitality, then." His eyes finally land on me. "Talia," he intones. "You look well. I guess ten days of sex on the beach was good for you. I know Dare seemed excited by the prospect."

He turns to Dare and claps him on the shoulder before focusing on me again. His smirk is still in place as our gazes lock. I have to fight to keep my expression neutral as I remember how Tristen had helped Dare trick me into accepting his proposal of marriage only a few months ago.

My expression turns stony and I take a step back from Tristen. "You know, I was actually on my best behavior at our wedding," I remark coolly. "Considering what you did to me, I think it's amazing that I didn't make a scene."

Tristen’s smirk fades away and his eyes widen as he takes in my serious expression. He takes a step back, looking almost guilty. "I'm sorry," he mutters. "I didn't mean..."

I cut him off. "You didn't mean to lie to me? You didn't mean to trick me into saying yes? You didn't mean to scare my Aunt Minnie half to death and cause thousands of dollars of damage to her bookstore?"

Tristen blinks. "Err... I guess I did. But I didn't think you would hold a grudge."

I tense up, so mad I could spit poison at the buffoonish man. Dare touches my shoulder, trying to hold me back.

"You two can hash things out later," Dare hisses, taking another protective step closer to me. "Now isn't the time or the place."

I glare at Tristen. Tristen bobs his head curtly and takes the hint. He steps away, blushing slightly. For a moment, I feel almost sorry for him; it looks like no one has ever called him out for his behavior before. But then I remember how he tricked me into accepting Dare's marriage proposal and all sympathy disappears.

He turns and disappears into the crowd without another word. Dare watches him go with an unreadable expression. Once Tristen is gone, Dare turns back to me with a cool smile on his face.

"Let's just get through this party," he suggests. I lift a shoulder at his suggestion, my mouth pulling into a tight line.

I bite my lip, watching as Dare's grandfather Remy hobbles around the party, growling at people and spewing his hateful opinions. Every time he spouts off about something, I feel a wave of nausea wash over me. Dare is obviously very well-respected in this world that his family lives in, and yet he still seems so oblivious to how toxic Remy is.

I turn to face him, my heart pounding with anger and frustration. "Why can't you see how corrosive your grandfather is?" I say softly. "Do you not realize what kind of person he is? He's poisoning everything around him."

Dare blinks at me, taken aback by my outburst. He takes a step back and then shakes his head slightly.

"Talia," he says softly, reaching out to touch my arm lightly. "I understand why you're upset—but there's nothing I can do about it right now." He pauses for a moment, looking at the crowd of rich businessmen before continuing quietly. "This party represents their world; when we are here, we will just have to deal with it."

My mouth drops open as I stare at him incredulously. Deal with it? As if it's our burden to bear? The thought fills me with rage and indignation, but I swallow it down and take a deep breath to calm myself down.

I remember all too clearly the extensive makeover and etiquette lessons I had to endure in order to fit in here and pretend to be a part of this elite class of people. It's disgusting that I had to change in order to look like I belong standing next to Dare, and yet I wouldn't want to undo any of it. That would be like holding up a sign that screams, 'Pay Attention To My Differences'.

No thanks.

Looking away from Dare, I focus on the crowd of rich people who are laughing and having the time of their lives while all around them normal people are struggling just to make ends meet. They act like they own everything and everyone they see—and worse, it seems like no one even bats an eye when they do it! It makes me want to scream in frustration..

"How am I supposed to 'deal with it'?" I finally manage to ask through gritted teeth. Dare sighs before pulling me into his arms for a hug. He holds me tightly for a moment before speaking again, this time more sternly than before. "I know it's not easy, Talia, but we have to play their game if we want to survive in this world. I can protect you from Remy, but I can't change his beliefs or the way he acts. And as for the rest of them," he gestures towards the partygoers around us, "I can't fight every paper tiger for you. I have to focus on the battles in front of me."

His arm around my waist tightens and he pulls me closer for a second. But I resist the embrace.

Just because Dare is brainwashed doesn't mean I have to fall into line with all this elite nonsense.

A silky voice comes from just behind me.

"You're looking well, Talia."

I jump and spin, clutching at my chest. Burn smirks at me, seeming to enjoy my panic. My heart hammers against my chest and I go into full fight or flight mode. Luckily, Dare is right beside me, pushing me behind his big body.

"Don't talk to her," he grits out.

"Dare," Burn finally speaks up, his voice strained. "You can't keep me from talking to her. We both know I didn't do anything wrong, she just...misunderstood."

I snort in disbelief and Dare's arm tightens around my waist as if to remind me that he is still here.

"She's clearly not misunderstanding," Dare says tersely. "She knows exactly what's going on here, and she knows you're a part of it." His voice is cold and firm but it carries an unmistakable undercurrent of anger.

Burn stares at us for a few moments before finally letting out an exasperated sigh. "Fine," he mutters under his breath before turning away from us.

Dare pulls me closer and I feel his rage radiating off him like heat from a fire. He might be trying to contain himself, but his emotions are so palpable I can almost taste them on the air.

But he does not move against his twin brother in any way; he only stands there with me tucked securely against him, silently defending my honor without resorting to violence or even raised voices. It's a stark contrast from the way Remy had treated me earlier and it makes my heart swell with admiration for Dare in spite of all the anger I'm feeling towards him right now.

It takes several long moments of silence before Dare finally speaks up again, this time with a calmer tone: "Burn, why don't you piss off? Unless you want Talia to start telling everybody here that you tried to assault her?"

Burn turns red and shoots me a glare. "This isn't over," he says through clenched teeth.

"It's over when I say it's over," Dare spits back.

Burn grimaces and turns away, heading through the party. My husband's grip on me loosens slightly but doesn't disappear entirely; the comfort of his embrace remains even as he sends his twin away with a polite request instead of an order or threat.

We mill around for a while, talking to wealthy party guests whenever they come up to congratulate us on our recent nuptials. While this is a slightly different set of wealthy people from our wedding guests, word has certainly gotten around about the lavish affair. My feet begin to ache and I start to regret my choice of stiletto high heels. They look great, but they are murder on my legs and back.

"There's Felix," Dare whispers into my ear. "Come on. I want to talk to him."

I compress my lips into a thin line and follow Dare's lead. He sidles up to Felix, who is just coming from one of the party's bars with a fresh cocktail.

"There you are!" Felix crowds when he locks his gaze on Dare. ""It's good to see you. How have you been?"

"Good," Dare replies, still tense from the confrontation with his brother earlier.

"I've got some good news from the state," Felix continues, his gaze flicking briefly over to me before returning to Dare. "My lobbying and legal efforts paid off; your project of offshore drilling off the coast of Maine is finally going to move forward."

Dare grins widely and claps Felix on the shoulder. "That's great! We can start construction soon then."

Felix nods and offers an encouraging smile in response. "Let's get down to business then, shall we? We need to start making plans." He turns back to Dare and fixes him with an intense gaze.

At first I think he's just addressing Dare, but then he adds "Ditch the wife and let’s get down to business." There it is again; that term 'wife' being thrown around like I'm nothing more than an accessory or burden.

But I don't get angry at Felix like I did Remy earlier; instead I feel a swell of pride as Dare stands up for me without hesitating for even a second: "No, she can hear anything you need to say now," he responds firmly. "We're married."

Felix's expression softens slightly and he gives me a small nod of acknowledgement before addressing us both again.

"Very well," he says. "Let's talk about our next steps then."

He launches into a detailed description of the plans for offshore drilling in Maine, leaving Dare and me both thoroughly informed on every aspect of the project by the end of our discussion.

The conversation between Dare and Felix quickly turns to the project's finances. Felix is telling us that they will need a huge cash infusion for the next steps of the plan, when he suddenly stops mid-sentence.

He looks from Dare to me before saying in a low voice: "There is another way, but it's not exactly legal."

My heart sinks as I realize what Felix is suggesting - he's implying that Dare should consider killing his billionaire grandfather Remy for the inheritance money. It's a suggestion so extreme and shocking that I can barely comprehend it.

But before I have time to respond, Dare quickly interjects with a firm "No. That's out of the question." His tone leaves no room for argument; it's clear that there will be no discussion on this topic.

I'm relieved by Dare's decisive response, but also alarmed; what is it with Morgan men and their willingness to kill someone just to get ahead? It fills me with disgust, and I realize that we need to leave this situation immediately.

Taking advantage of the tense atmosphere, I pretend to feel faint and put my hand on Dare's arm. He notices right away and quickly moves away from Felix, ushering me away from the conversation.

Once we're out of earshot, he takes my hand and squeezes it tightly, reminding me of his love without saying a word. We make our way through the crowd towards the exit, thankful to have escaped this uncomfortable situation unscathed.

This party is really draining my remaining will to live. "How long do we have to stay?"

Dare looks at me, his shrewd gaze appraising me. "Not too much longer. Remy is notorious for leaving parties early, so we only have to stay until--"

"Dare!" Daisy calls, raising her arm and waving like he's a long lost friend. "There you are. I was hoping I would see you here!"

Dare takes a step back and he clutches my hand. His jaw tenses.

"It's Remy's birthday. Where else would we be?" I scoff.

Daisy's eyes narrow on my face as she sidles up to us. "I don't know. I thought perhaps you would be sidelined by your delicate state, Talia. I'm referring to your pregn--"

"Daisy!" Dare growls. "That's enough."

Daisy makes a scornful sound and rolls her eyes, putting a hand on her hip. "Talia gave that information away. There's no use in trying to safeguard it now."

The tension between Dare and Daisy is palpable, and I can feel my skin prickle with nervous energy. Dare keeps his stance steady, standing feet apart and his arms crossed over his chest in a defensive posture. His gaze is intense as he stares at Daisy.

He fixes Daisy with a piercing look, his voice loaded with menace. “I can't believe I wanted to marry you. What a waste of my life that would have been.”

Daisy shifts uncomfortably under his gaze, her cheeks blazing pink. She looks as though she wants to lash out but she knows that won't do any good; Dare isn't the type of person to be intimidated by anyone.

Finally, breaking the silence, she speaks up. "What exactly are you implying?"

Her voice is shrill and her face is full of indignation. But Dare doesn't back down.

"I can't believe that you had me fooled. And I'm wondering if our relationship was ever real to you," he replies calmly but firmly. "Or were you just manipulating me the whole time we were together? Was every moment scripted for your own gain?"

His words are like a slap in the face for Daisy and I can tell that she's getting more and more angry by the second. She opens her mouth to speak but then quickly shuts it again as Dare glares at her with no signs of relenting.

"You are just mad because I ended up with the good brother. And you ended up with--"

"I dare you to finish that sentence," he spits. "Let's see if Burn is the only one who can strangle women in this house."

Her eyes widen, either from the threat or because that's not the version of the story of my assault that Burn fed her. Finally, fed up with Dare's accusations, Daisy takes a deep breath and stomps her foot before turning on her heel and stalking away from us. We both watch silently as she disappears into the crowd of people, leaving us alone in an awkward silence.

"We really should just leave," I whisper in Dare's ear. "Before we have another run-in with your father or grandfather."

He grits his teeth. "No. We have to play along." I bob my head, shifting from one foot to another. Thinking to myself that it can't be much longer now.

The room falls silent as Remy clinks a knife against a champagne flute, calling for attention. "Friends, family..." He raises his glass. "I want to make a toast."

Remy stands in the center of the room, champagne flute in hand and his voice full of emotion. "Many of you know that my son Dare has a bit of a reputation around here. He's known as a complete bastard and a bit of a skirt-chaser."

I can feel my heart start to beat faster in my chest. I look nervously between Remy and Dare, while the rest of us just stand there, unsure of what is going to happen next.

Remy clears his throat and continues: "It is a pleasurable surprise then, that I have come to find out that my grandson has impregnated his new wife. I challenged both grandsons to marry and have children... and Dare seems to have risen to that challenge. I always suspected that Dare was a limp-dick sack of shit like my son Tripp. But perhaps I have been proven wrong."

Dare's face turns red with humiliation and anger as Remy continues. "I toast the union of my grandson and his new bride, Talia." He raises his glass and everyone else follows suit, raising their glasses to us.

Dare mumbles something under his breath but I can't make it out. We all wait for him to speak, trying not to be too uncomfortable. Finally, Dare manages to speak through gritted teeth.

"Thank you," he says stiffly. "Your words mean a lot to me." We all take a sip of our drinks in unison and the tension in the room begins to dissipate.

But then, Remy clears his throat again and turns towards me. "I must admit that when I first heard that you two were married, I was skeptical." He gives me a pointed look before continuing. "But you have proven yourself worthy of my grandson's affections."

I blush red as a beet, but I hold my head high despite the scrutiny I am receiving from Dare's grandfather. I can sense the hurt in my husband's eyes from Remy's words and I want to do something to make him feel better. So I take Dare's hand in my own and look into his eyes with love and admiration before turning back towards Remy.

"I may not come from a prestigious family like yours, but I love Dare more than anything else in this world." I pause for effect before continuing. "I'm proud of everything we've accomplished together - marrying each other despite our different backgrounds; proving those who tried to keep us apart wrong; building an amazing life together."

Remy's mouth pinches slightly at my words before he finally nods begrudgingly. It's more dismissive of me than it is an acceptance of Dare and I getting married and having a baby. I know that, but it still feels like a kind of victory to me.

After Remy's toast, I finally manage to drag Dare away from the estate and into the waiting SUV that will take us home. He settles in the back seat with a grumble. But when I put my head on his shoulder and intertwine my fingers with his, he runs his fingers through my hair and makes the quietest sigh of satisfaction.

Not a word is said on the car ride home. But I feel like I've figured out something vital. If I can make Dare happy enough when we are alone, it makes up for his family being a mess. Maybe if I can try to charm and enchant him, we can someday be free of the Morgans forever.