Heirly Ever After, Vernon, Magan [best thriller novels to read .txt] 📗

Fuck…

Was I falling for Madison?

The realization hit me like a ton of bricks.

Of course you are, you numpty.

The woman on the train with the best laugh and freckles was never going to be a one-night thing.

Madison was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of woman.

Smart.

Cute.

Cared about everyone more than herself.

If I lost her…would it even be worth it to have the Webleys? How could I even work with her sister knowing what I’d lost in the feisty redhead?

Blast, I was in love.

I needed to crash the wedding after all.

Just not for the reasons everyone else thought.

Without thinking any further, I dressed as quickly as I could and called a taxi to the manor. Apparently, everyone else in town was using the service, too, since it took almost twenty minutes for someone to arrive at the inn.

My shoulders stiffened against the leather seats of the town car as we rounded the now familiar birch-lined path to Webley Manor. At least half a dozen other cars lined the circle path, guests exiting in their Sunday best before being led by suit-clad men out to the garden.

Once I stepped out of the car, the scent of rose and lily filled my senses, the entire path lined with the colorful yellow and pink flowers. The limestone columns were decorated with hanging floral wreaths, ones that had stood there since the grounds were first built.

The ones my family had built.

My family and the Webleys.

A lump formed in my throat as I shoved my hands into the pockets of my suit coat, following along with the crowd, hoping I wouldn’t be pointed out and kicked out immediately.

Not before I was able to talk to Madison.

“Lachlan, I didn’t expect to see you still here.”

The hair on the back of my neck stood on end as I turned toward the owner of the shrill voice.

Baroness Everly stood in her dark maroon dress and feathered fascinator like an evil villain amongst all of the white chairs and bright flowers set up for the wedding in the garden.

Other guests went around us as she took my hand, pulling me closer.

I ignored the deep pit of dread in my stomach, trying to be civil for the crowd as I politely kissed her cheek.

“Good to see you, too, Everly,” I said through gritted teeth.

“After you disappeared the other night, I didn’t think I’d see you again, especially after Miss Madison showed up to the hen party without a mention of her MacWebley date.”

I forced a smile, my jaw tightening. “Yes, well, I’m back now, aren’t I? And have you seen the fair Madison?”

She rolled her heavily made-up eyes. “You and I both know that you fucked up somehow with this family, and if you’re here for one last-ditch effort for their help, well, I may have a better solution.”

I froze, my heart beating in my ears as I swallowed. “And what might that be?”

A wicked smile crossed her lips. “Our parents still want us to get married.”

I held back a laugh, biting my tongue as I shook my head. “I’m not marrying you, Everly.”

She scoffed. “Look, you’re not my first choice, either, but if it’ll get our families off our backs, we can court for a while. My family can slowly buy the manor and gift it to us as our eventual wedding gift. What do you say?”

I swallowed hard, trying to control the bile now rising in my throat. “Everly, you don’t even like me. Why in the hell would you want to marry me?”

She smirked, letting out a small huff. “I’m approaching thirty, and that makes me an old maid by noble standards. It’s either you or my parents keep trying to set me up with some old-arse men from the highlands. I figure we don’t have to be in love, but at least we can tolerate each other.”

She put one hand on her hip and the other one out to me. “What do you say, Lachlan? No more begging. We just get this courtship over with?”

It could have been so easy.

No more begging.

I wouldn’t go against my family’s wishes.

Then I looked up to one of the balcony windows, catching the familiar flash of red hair.

Madison.

If I did this, I’d have to forget about her, about anything happening between us. The thought of it had the guilt riddling in the pit of my stomach travel up to my already pounding chest.

“This offer isn’t going to last, Lachlan,” she said, voice going hard with impatience. “Do you really think the Webleys are going to help you out after all these years?”

I swallowed hard, taking another look at the window.

This would either be the worst decision of my life or the best.

“Piss off, Everly.”

I hurried past her and went in search of my damsel.

Chapter Seventeen

Madison

Was there anything more beautiful than a wedding in the garden of a grand manor?

The sun was in the perfect spot in the sky to cascade over the limestone pillars, the floral displays sitting at the end of each row of golden chairs. My sister was a stunning array of white silk gliding down the rose petal lined path as she made her way to her smiling future husband.

I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn’t noticed Jacob among the guests and almost tripped as I carried Natalie’s enormous train down the aisle.

Once standing in front, the familiar pull had my gaze locked on him where he sat at the back of the room. When had he returned? And why? What more could he have to say to the Webleys or to me?

On the happiest day of my sister’s life, I should have been thrilled for her and taking part in the joyous reception. Instead, I seethed and gritted my teeth, on high alert about any last-minute move Jacob might pull to ruin the day.

He lied to me.

He lied to everyone.

I couldn’t even think about forgiving him. I’d done that so many times with Chris and where did that get me? Right in the middle of