Everett leaned back.

“Because you’ve been inside my home every week for two years and never taken advantage of me once. Because you put your daughter ahead of yourself every single day. And because this house has plenty of rooms, Laurel, but it hasn’t felt like a home in a very long time.”

I refused at first.

Then Brielle became sick again.

Three weeks later, I agreed.

## The Marriage Everyone Whispered About

We had a small courthouse ceremony.

No flowers.

No expensive dress.

No celebration afterward.

Everett wore a navy suit.

I wore a simple cream dress I already owned.

Brielle stood between us smiling as though something wonderful had happened.

Maybe, for her, it had.