“Justin Sterling.”
“Prenup?”
She
frowned. “No.”
“You did well then.”
“There’s more to a marriage than a prenup or lack thereof.”
“Of course. But it’s nice not to sign one, especially if you’re a woman and have fewer assets.”
“Do you ever actually listen to yourself?”
“Yes. And as a high-priced lawyer, you know I’m right.” He hung up.
She glared at the phone. She should’ve known Dane would be callous about the whole thing. Not even a token “congratulations.”
Well, what did she expect from the manipulative jerk? At least her three other brothers were nice. Since she no longer knew Shane’s number, given all his travels, she emailed him a short message, letting him know she was married and that she missed him. It wasn’t like Shane to be gone so long, as adventurous as he was.
Then she debated who she should call next. It was going to be either her mom or dad, and she flipped the “inner conflict resolution” quarter she kept in her desk drawer. It came up heads.
She dialed and waited. Ceinlys picked up on the fourth ring. “Hello dear.”
“Hi, Mom.”
A beat of silence. “What’s wrong?”
Vanessa closed her eyes briefly. There was no escaping the maternal mood radar. “I just wanted you to know that I, ah, got married. To Justin.”
“You what?”
“I married him. Justin Sterling.”
“Justin Sterling.”
“Yes.”
“When did this happen?”
“About seven weeks ago.”
“Vanessa!” Ceinlys gasped. “And you never told me. He didn’t mention it either…and both of you came over to my party!”
“Well, we weren’t going to tell anybody for the time be—”
“I am not ‘anybody.’ Really, Vanessa. Keeping an affair like this from your own mother. Marrying someone like him isn’t just a matter of love.”
Ceinlys would know from experience. Vanessa covered her face with a hand.
“Did you negotiate your own prenup?” her mother asked.
She sighed. “There isn’t any prenup.” Not for a lack of trying. She would’ve preferred everything to be laid out crystal clear.
Ceinlys made a vague humming noise. “I see. Well. When is the honeymoon?”
“Whenever Barron decides is good, I guess,” Vanessa grumbled.