Total pages in book: 169
Estimated words: 162138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 811(@200wpm)___ 649(@250wpm)___ 540(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 162138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 811(@200wpm)___ 649(@250wpm)___ 540(@300wpm)
“Open your eyes, baby,” she whispers, and fuck, when she says that. . . I take a deep breath, open my eyes, and find her looking at me with the kind of love she reserves only for me. “I love you so much. So, so much.”
“I know you do,” I mutter under my breath. “But you can still leave me.”
“Lachlan Duke.” She drops her hands, an amused expression on her face. “Any signed contract, marriage or not, won’t bind me to you if I wanted to leave you or vice versa.”
“I would never leave you,” I growl quietly.
Her eyes heat instantly and damn it. Now I need to fuck her. She crosses her arms, the heat still in her eyes, but she’s much better at containing the urge than I am.
“Just tell me what you added,” I say quietly, my voice softer.
“Stay here,” she says and walks away.
I watch her go up to Prescott and say something. My mom, dad, and now Liam, who’s joined the party like a FUCKING TRAITOR, are sipping their champagne and looking at me like I’m the one who’s acting crazy. My wife is making important decisions without me and they’re just sitting there, enabling her. Lyla walks back with papers in her hands and hands them to me.
“Can we go to your office?” she asks.
My heart sinks. She wants more privacy. I simply nod. She turns around and tells them she’ll be right back, and then we walk out. I follow her, papers in my right hand and my heart in my throat. Once we’re inside my office, she shuts the door behind us and walks to the couch. I follow and sit next to her.
“I asked them not to write it in legalese,” she says, sounding amused by this.
Maybe I would be amused too if I wasn’t so damn nervous about what I might find. The first few pages look the same, but what do I know? I don’t know legalese, either. I’ve only looked at merch and hockey contracts, and then, I’m only primarily interested in the length of time I’m committing to and how many zeros will be on the check. I keep flipping. What kind of arrogant, pretentious douchebag decided that contracts should be more than one page anyway? Finally, I find new things on the very last page. She wasn’t kidding when she said she made them write it in plain English.
Lyla James Marichal agrees to waive the right to the money owed to her for her marriage to Lachlan James Duke. *The sum of two million dollars will be donated to women’s clinics and hospitals in need.
Lyla James Marichal agrees to put her shares of Duke Tech Enterprises in an account for any future children she has while married to Lachlan James Duke. The account will remain untouched until their children are twenty-five (not married!!!!).
That part makes me laugh a little.
Lyla James Marichal agrees to provide her medical services to any veteran employed by Duke Tech Enterprises for the next three years (at least) during and after her residency, so long as she is able. In return, Lachlan James Duke’s contract with Duke Tech Enterprises is void and left pending, upon agreement that Lachlan James Duke forfeits his duties with Duke Tech Enterprises for the next three years (at least).
Lyla clears her throat. “You’ll still get your inheritance since we’ll be married.”
I keep my eyes on the paper. I can’t remember the last time I cried. Probably when I was a kid and my father didn’t show up for something. I’m pretty sure I’m crying right now, if the wet drops on the contract are any indication. I inhale a shaky breath and wipe my face. I had my lawyer look at the contract I signed with Duke Tech a second time, and he said it was iron-clad and nearly impossible to get out of.
He suggested I speak to my father, but I hadn't figured out a way to do that without feeling like an ungrateful bastard. Duke Tech is the only reason I found Lyla. There's no way I can ever repay him for that. It’s why I made peace with not going back to the league. I choose her over hockey any day. Every day. Fucking Lyla. I read it again. She agreed to work for Duke when called upon. She forfeited all of the money she could have used to pay her debt, for me. Of course, I’m going to pay it for her, but that’s not the point.
My mother loves me, my brother loves me, my father claims he loves me, but none of them have ever done anything that comes close to this. I’m not certain that they would, if they were in this situation. Lyla scoots closer and sets a hand on mine. I lower the contract and look at her. She smiles but starts fighting her own tears when she sees the ones brimming in my eyes. I open my arms and she launches into me, the way she did with Banks the other day. I pull her into my arms. We hold each other until she pulls away. I take a breath and she wipes her face again.