"I didn't lie. I heard your conversation with her and found you the best solution. We'll get married and you can keep your niece," he said in a matter-of-fact tone. She stared incredulously at him.
"I can't get married to you."
"Then you'll lose your niece." He spoke the words without any emotion, never breaking eye contact. She stood there, letting what he said sink in. Could she marry a man for any other reason than love? She'd have said never, even an hour ago, but she couldn't lose her niece and if marriage was the solution to keeping her, then what could it really hurt?
She thought back to their conversation weeks ago about arranged marriages and how he was convinced all marriages were about convenience. Marriage to him was nothing more than a contract. He wasn't offering marriage on an emotional basis, it was purely business to him.
"Why would you do this, you have nothing to gain?" she finally asked.
"In case you haven't noticed, we're great in bed together. That's worth a wedding ring," he told her and she flinched. He was trading a wedding ring for unlimited sex. Could she really sell herself like that? It wasn't like sleeping with him was a hardship, but still it seemed so cold. She had to blink away the tears as she thought about it. She turned from him, looking out the window.
"I need to think about all of this."
"There's nothing to think about, Jennifer. You either do this for your niece, or not. A wedding takes time to plan and I already told Ms. Ellis we were marrying in a week, so you need to decide now," he said, still in that cold voice. He was pushing her into a corner and she wanted nothing more than to run away. She looked into the living room, at her niece, who was so content in that moment. She'd opened up so much more in the last months and Jennifer knew if she went into the foster care system she'd quickly retreat again. She'd think her aunt had abandoned her. She couldn't let that happen.
"Fine," she said, barely above a whisper. She wouldn't turn and look at him when she spoke the single word. He didn't need any clarification - he knew he'd won the battle.
"I'll get it arranged," he told her and walked out her front door. She felt like she'd just sold her soul to the devil, but she'd have done much worse if it would keep her niece safe. She joined her on the couch, pulling her close, needing to remember her own life didn't matter - it was about Molly, who she was responsible for.
Trenton left the house feeling guilty about pushing Jennifer into a corner, but he knew he couldn't let her go. He didn't want to give her time to think of any other solution. He wanted her to be his wife, and when he wanted something, he always went after it until it was his.
Jennifer was stunned by how quickly things happened after one simply stated word. She got a call later from Emily Anderson, congratulating her on her upcoming marriage and asking her to come over so they could go over wedding details. She'd reluctantly accepted the invitation, not wanting to make a big deal over a fake marriage, but also not wanting to hurt Emily, who had become a friend to her.
She arrived at the ranch, where all the Anderson women were, along with Trenton's siblings and cousins. The house was full of people and items. She'd been invited to stay at the ranch, though it had been more of a command, so they could get all they needed to get done in the short amount of time.
She'd been excused from work, as she was busy day and night for the wedding, and she didn't see Trenton alone, not even once. She spotted him here and there but always from a distance. The looks he sent her caught her on fire, though. He seemed just as hungry for her as she was for him and she had a feeling their wedding night was going to be explosive.
She was measured, waxed, plucked and put through every beauty treatment she could ever possibly imagine, and before she knew it, her wedding day was there. She told everyone repeatedly she didn't want a large wedding but no one listened.
She stared at herself in the full length mirror, in one of the guest rooms, at the ranch and could barely recognize herself. She loved her dress, all white, poufy and filled with beads and lace. It was a dream dress and she couldn't bemoan the gown in any way. Her hair was swept off of her neck, held in place by clips, beads and a sparkling tiara. Her make-up had been applied by an expert and she felt beautiful.
"Aunt Jennifer, is it time?" Molly, who looked like a miniature version of herself, asked.
"I think so, beautiful," she said, causing Molly to giggle.
"I'm a princess," Molly said and spun in a circle. She looked like a little princess in her white dress and tiara. She looked so beautiful it made Jennifer's throat ache for her sister who would never get to see her child grow. Sometimes the world was a cruel place and she vowed to never let her sister's memory fade. Molly would know her well.