Married the Right Girl This Time

I marched into the mansion, straight to the staff quarters.

Shoved the door open. Yvette sat in her wheelchair.

Her face lit up—then dropped. "Why didn't you pick Rosie?"

Didn't bother answering. Just leaned in and kissed her. "Don't you wanna marry me?"

She turned tomato red. Paused. Whispered, "I do."

***

Next day, I swung by again. Sebastian, the house manager, stopped me at the door.

"Mrs. Yelton had a wedding suit made. Time to try it on," he said, grinning like it was Christmas. "Yvette's had a crush on you forever. She's gonna lose it."

Then that voice hit.

"What did you just say?"

Rosie stood in the doorway. Caleb, obviously, right behind her, smug as hell.

Before Sebastian could get a word out, I stepped in. "It's nothing."

Rosie stared me down, laughed, dead-eyed. "Trying to act noble now that you're marrying me?"

She snatched the suit. "Caleb's wearing it first. Then you can have it."

Sebastian's face dropped. "Miss Yelton, your mom had that made for Mr. Quandt. She said no one else—"

Caleb cut in, all fake-hurt. "Man, Quinn's got everyone wrapped around his finger. Now even the help's talking down to me..."

Rosie snapped. "You don't listen to me anymore? I said Caleb wears it first!"

I took a breath. "No."

Our wedding was on a timer. I didn't have the patience.

Reached for the suit.

Before I touched it, Caleb let out a dramatic yell and threw himself down the stairs—still clutching the damn suit.

By the time anyone noticed, he was at the bottom, forehead bleeding.

He pointed at me, shaking. "Why... Why'd you push me?"

Rosie screamed. "Caleb!" She helped him up and rushed him out.

This crap? Caleb did it all the time.

And Rosie fell for it. Every. Single. Time.

I turned to find Yvette—but Rosie came storming back, grabbed my sleeve, and yanked me toward the driveway.

I pulled back. "What the hell are you doing?"

She shoved me against the car. "Caleb's bleeding. You're giving him blood."

"You nuts? It's a scratch. He'll be fine before we hit the ER. Move."

Went for my phone—she snatched it and hurled it. "You got me. You're marrying me. So why keep hurting him?"

The driver started the engine.

"I'm anemic. I pass out at the sight of blood. A transfusion could kill me!"

She laughed, cold. "You're a grown man. That excuse is pathetic."

We rolled up to a Yelton Group hospital. She dragged me to the blood draw room, barking orders. "Hurry up. He gives Caleb whatever he needs."

Needle went in.

I flinched.

Everything spun.

***

No clue how long I was out, but when I came to, I was on the floor—barely able to move.

Room was empty.

Rosie had dragged every nurse and doc to Caleb's side.

Just as everything started fading again, someone lifted me up.

"Don't fall asleep! Quinn, stay with me!"

I blinked.

Yvette was there, eyes red. "I'm late."

She pulled out the ring I gave her yesterday and slid it on. "I can't wait anymore."

"Me neither," I rasped.

Then I gave the order. "We're moving the wedding. Tonight."

That night, I rolled up to the Yelton estate in full wedding motorcade.

Rosie stormed out, fuming. "All this drama over blood? You're mad 'cause I was with Caleb. Well, I'm back. Happy now?"

Before I said a word, Yvette's voice cut through from behind her.

"Rosie, that how you greet your brother-in-law?"