The price of my marriage

(Livia) Julian stared at my father, waiting for an explanation. Charles moved away from the fireplace while my mother remained beside Camille. Nobody had bothered to ask whether I knew about the agreement. I stayed where I was because I wanted answers too. "What the hell are you talking about?" "Perhaps you should explain it." "Bennett Enterprises needed financial assistance, and Prescott Holdings agreed to invest." "What does that have to do with my marriage?" "The investment depended on our families becoming connected through marriage." Julian looked at Camille, who lowered her eyes. My father had stopped pacing and was watching Charles. I had never seen him so reluctant to speak. Then Julian turned toward me. "You knew about this?" "No. I found out today." "Don't lie to me, Livia." "I'm not lying." "Shut up. I'll decide when I want to hear from you." I stared at him in disbelief. He had asked me a question and then ordered me to stop speaking. My mother looked away as though nothing had happened. I wasn't going to accept being embarrassed in front of everyone. "Then stop asking questions if you don't want answers." "Watch your mouth." "Watch how you speak to me." My father immediately intervened. He looked furious, but I refused to apologize. Julian was already treating me like I had committed some terrible crime. I hadn't done anything except marry him because our families demanded it. "Livia, apologize to your husband." "For what? Defending myself?" "You're being disrespectful." "Then apologize for arranging my marriage without telling me." My father looked away. Julian demanded to know why my name had been included. Charles admitted that my father had requested a replacement clause in case Camille couldn't marry Julian. I watched Julian turn on him. "You offered me whichever daughter was available?" "It was necessary to protect the arrangement." "And neither of you thought I deserved to know?" "The wedding had to proceed, Julian." "How much money did you give Richard?" "That's confidential." "How much?" "Twenty million dollars." I stared at him. My parents had received twenty million dollars through an agreement involving my marriage. They had never mentioned financial problems before Camille disappeared. I wondered how long they had been planning everything. "Twenty million?" Julian repeated. "It was an investment." "An investment secured by my marriage?" "The agreement was legal, and the investment was approved." I couldn't believe how casually he discussed it. Nobody had asked whether I wanted to marry Julian. They had simply decided I would replace Camille if necessary. Now both families were discussing the consequences as though I wasn't present. "Was my name written in the agreement?" "Livia, stay out of this." "It's my marriage. I have every right to ask." "Didn't I tell you to shut up?" I folded my arms and looked directly at him. He seemed to think raising his voice would frighten me. I had spent years listening to my parents give orders. I wasn't going to let another person control everything I said. "And I told you not to speak to me like that." "You're testing my patience." "Then stop blaming me for something your father arranged." Julian stared at me before turning toward Camille. He demanded to know whether she had known about the agreement. She admitted discovering it shortly before the wedding. Her answer seemed to upset him more than anything else. "Is that why you disappeared?" "I couldn't go through with it, Julian." "Why didn't you come to me?" "I thought you'd choose your inheritance over me." "You should have trusted me." Camille approached him and touched his arm. Julian didn't move away or tell her to stop. My mother watched them with obvious interest. I wondered whether she was already imagining Camille becoming his wife again. "Now that Camille has returned, we should reconsider the arrangement." "Nothing has changed. Julian is legally married to Livia." "Can the marriage be annulled?" "Not simply because Camille has returned. The trustees are already examining the wedding documents." I looked at Julian. He was discussing ending our marriage as though I wasn't standing there. I didn't want to remain married to someone who despised me. But I wasn't going to let him treat me like an unwanted possession. "If you want a divorce, Julian, I'm not stopping you." "Nobody asked you." "Nobody asked me before arranging this marriage either." Camille interrupted before Julian could respond. She asked whether they could speak privately, and he agreed to call her later. Then he announced he was leaving. I picked up my handbag and followed him outside. Julian stopped beside his car and turned toward me. His expression told me he hadn't finished arguing. I was tired of everyone expecting me to accept their accusations. I waited for him to speak. "You embarrassed me in there." "You embarrassed yourself." "Get in the damn car." "Stop ordering me around." He opened the passenger door without answering. I got inside because I wanted to leave my parents' house. Julian started the engine and drove away. He didn't remain silent for long. "You knew your father was desperate for money." "No, I didn't." "Shut up, Livia. I'm not interested in your excuses." "Then don't accuse me of something I didn't do." He looked at me before returning his attention to the road. I knew he was furious, but I refused to accept responsibility for our fathers' decisions. He had treated me terribly since our wedding. I wasn't going to apologize simply because he wanted someone to blame. "From now on, you'll learn what happens when people interfere with my life." "Then start with your father, Julian. I had nothing to do with it." His hands gripped the steering wheel. I could see how much he hated being challenged. He had probably expected me to remain silent throughout the drive. Instead, I had made it clear I wouldn't accept his accusations. "Don't expect me to treat you like a wife after what your family did." "You haven't treated me like one since we got married." "Keep talking, Livia. You're going to regret every word when we get home."