Her Reluctant Husband by Erica Marselas (books to read for 12 year olds .TXT) 📕

seat, glaring over towards June. “As I was saying, she left the house to both of you, however, there is one stipulation.”

“What?” June says meekly.

“You two have to get married."

3JUNE

Married??

“Like to whoever we want, right?”

“No, Alex, married to each other.”

Married??

The word rings and drums in my head, echoing as I try to process it. I mean, I know Liz said she had something crazy up her sleeve and I should prepare myself, but marriage? To Alex? A person who hates me and has zero trust in me.

Yeah, this is going to go over like being asked to swallow hot lava while standing on a million tacks as someone throws swords at my head.

I would like to say I’m being over dramatic…but I think not!

I peek over at Alex, and I think he's about to combust. His face is maroon, his cheeks swollen like balloons as he holds in his words, and I swear his eyes might burst from their sockets. I picture the steam, like in a cartoon, coming out of his ears.

He looks just the same as I last saw him years ago. All the anger and pain still stacked on top of him. And every ounce of it is directed at me. Who can blame him with all the lies he swallowed?

"Are you certain? Like we have to marry each other to get the house?" I ask calmly getting final confirmation.

"I am certain. It's what she wanted."

"There's no way in fucking hell I'm going to marry her." Alex finally explodes, rising from his seat and stabbing his finger at me. Every bit of disgust rolling off his firm shoulders.

I sit up straighter in my chair, trying to prove to him, he’s not getting to me, but inside I’m a sinking ship with its bow barely above water.

"Liz figured that's what you would say." Mr. Kelley leans in on the desk and steeples his fingers. "There is a way out."

"Thank god," Alex breathes and falls back into his chair. "What is it? We’ll do that."

"If you don't marry each other by the end of the week, the property will be sold off to Orlando Bookings and or a higher bidder if one comes. The profits of the sale will go to charity, but you will each get a cut of fifteen percent from the sale."

"Orlando Bookings? The real estate tycoon?" I ask and Mr. Kelly nods.

"The very same."

"But she hated the man, there's no way she would do that." Orlando has been hassling her for years to sell because the house is on a prime piece of land. A couple of months ago he was here and offered her a million for the land, but she swore she would never budge. No matter what.

"She's not here anymore. She wanted the property to be left to her kids. The ones that once found joy in it like she had for so many years. Her words were, ‘If they can’t find the happiness in these walls again, then she wants to find someone that will.’”

"There's no fucking way we are going to find joy in this together," Alex says roughly.

“You could if you tried. She hopes it will stay with the family for years and generations to come.”

I peek over at Alex and I notice he goes a little green at Kelley’s words. My stomach also does a back flip. Liz really is pulling out all the tricks today.

“There has to be a loophole,” Alex demands. “A way for me to get this house without linking myself to her.”

“I’m afraid not, Alex. This is solid,” Kelley says looking up from his documents. “I helped write them up myself.”

“My aunt can’t force me to marry someone. It can't be legal?”

“She's not forcing you. Technically, it’s a mere request and what she wants in order for you to get the house. If you don’t want to, the property will sell. I mean you could try to outbid Bookings, but I don’t think you have that kind of money son. So, it’s your choice.”

“Just why her?”

“I'm right here,” I snarl. I wish for five minutes he would stop treating me like I’m horse shit on the bottom of his boot. I get people played with his mind about me, but I’m still human.

“Okay, why you?" he grumbles at me, baring his teeth.

"She told you why in your letters." Mr. Kelley moves from his desk and stands between us both.

"Nothing in my letter led to a reason I should marry her to keep my childhood house. This should be mine. It’s my family’s."

"Forgiveness…" Kelly starts, and Alex slams his fist into the desk. The gold frame holding the picture of Kathleen, me, and Alex falls to the floor with a clatter. Probably now broken and shattered like we are.

"Never. Not happening. She knows what she did, and I'm never forgiving her for it."

Tears prick in the corner of my eyes, and I hate how he can rip me apart with such simple words even after all this time. I wish for one second, I could have the Alex back that would bandage my knees when I fell or made me grilled cheese when I was hungry. "Is there anything else you need me for right now? It's obvious this isn't going to work,” I ask as I stand, keeping my back to Alex to wipe the tears from the corner of my eyes.

"June-bug," Mr. Kelley moves to my side and puts his hand on my shoulder, "let me talk to him."

"I don't think you have enough oxygen in your lungs to talk it out with him," I say, and Kelley laughs.

“You might be right.” We both glance over at a pacing and sneering Alex.

"I