Reborn Heiress: Escaping My Contract Marriage with the Cold CEO Chapter 17: Drunk is More Fun

VANESSA BELMONT

"You guys are an." I slapped Ollie on the shoulder. "Put down for a hundred bucks. Nathan will stay so cool his forehead freezes."

"I don’t think you realize how much Nate likes you," Carver said.

"You’re delusional."

"Maybe." Carver took the seat next to mine and lifted the toy rifle. "How many ducks have you gotten?"

"Zero," I said. "Grace? Did you shoot any?"

"I’m an animal lover," she said. "I missed them all on purpose."

We giggled.

Carver proceeded to take down every duck he aid at and asked for two purple giraffes as prizes. He handed one to each of us. "I think you ladies need a non-alcoholic drink."

He led us to a beverage booth and handed us bottles of water.

"I don’t want to be sober," complained Grace. "Drunk is more fun."

Ollie grinned. "What if I told you that if you drink this whole bottle, you can run around with water pistols and shoot people?"

Carver laughed. "I’m not missing that."

"I’m in!" I yelled.

"If it’s not a duck, I can probably hit it," said Grace. "I’m in, too."

We banged our plastic water bottles together, and then drank.

***|***|***|***|***

VANESSA BELMONT

Two sections of yard had been divvied up for water fights—one for the kids and one for adults. The blasters were huge and held enough water to soak adults to their shoes.

I kicked off my sandals sowhere near a pile of haystacks used for duck-and-cover. My entire person was wet because Grace, Carver, and Ollie were way better at water fights than I was. But now I was creeping up behind Carver, and BLAM! I nailed him the back.

He whirled around and aid at , pumping the blaster as he splattered relentlessly. Ollie appeared out of nowhere and joined Carver’s attempt to drown .

"Grace!" I yelled. "Help!"

"To the rescue," she cried as ran past and sprayed water across Carver’s midsection. He dramatically stumbled backwards, gun flying in the air, as he landed on a haystack and pretended to die.

Grace, Ollie and I had no rcy. We blasted him with the last of the water in our guns before we collapsed next to him.

"You two are cruel," said Carver.

"You an we’re aweso," corrected Grace. "Hey, you wanna go throw ourselves in the pool?"

"Might as well," said Carver. He jumped up and grabbed Grace and I, hauling us upright. Ollie groaned as he rolled onto his knees and staggered to his feet. Carver put an arm around each of us, Ollie wrapped his arm around my waist.

Laughing, we headed out of the danger zone and to the swimming pool.

***|***|***|***|***

NATHAN JANG

While Fiona went to the restroom, I decided to track down Vanessa. I was surprised she hadn’t tried to find . She used to pop up anywhere I was, and stuck to like she’d been glued to my side. That kind of relentlessness had soured to her presence.

Now, she seed to be purposely avoiding . I don’t know why I felt so irritated. All I could think about for the last twenty-four hours was Vanessa’s sweet mouth on mine. I wanted to peel off that lingerie with my teeth, and worship her body. Had she not felt the way I did that night in the hotel room?

You an the night you left her alone to go to Fiona, reminded my conscience. Guilt twisted my gut. Contract marriage or not, abandoning my soon-to-be wife had been a bad decision. Vanessa’s words echoed in my mind: You’re rushing off to take care of another woman. You’ve made your choice.

I heard a playful scream and followed it to the water-fight field for adults. I watched Vanessa blast Carver Haynes with water. When he turned around and fired back, Ollie popped out from behind a haystack to spray Vanessa.

Then Grace Witherstone jumped into the fray. Both Vanessa and Grace drilled into Carver as he fell onto a pile of haystacks and pretended to die. The ladies dropped their guns and collapsed on either side of him.

They were laughing so hard, and having so much fun, and I couldn’t stand it. I clenched my fists, and thought about all the tis I’d been dismissive to Vanessa. Cold and polite to the woman I planned to marry. You’re an asshole, Jang.

I watched as Carver put his arms around both won and Ollie took Vanessa around the waist. They headed toward the pool area.

Watching Carver put his arm around Vanessa so casually, as if he had the right, as if he were her boyfriend, put a knot in my gut. But what could I say? Hadn’t I let Fiona hang on my arm whenever she wanted?

A pair of black sandals snagged my attention and I realized they belonged to Vanessa. I ran across the field and picked them up by the back straps.

"Brother Nathan!" Fiona walked toward , smiling. She grasped my forearm. "Were you waiting for ?"

Not really. I tried to shake off her grip, but she clung to , her eyes wide with innocence and her smile beatific. Every ti you let her grab your arm or take your hand and call you ’brother’ is permission. Vanessa’s voice echoed in my mind, and I felt guilt squeeze my heart.

"Let go of ," I told Fiona.

Hurt filled her expression as she released my arm. "What’s wrong, brother?"

"I’m engaged to Vanessa. People might get the wrong impression if they see you holding onto ."

"You’ve never said anything before."

"I should have."

Fiona frowned. "It’s a contract marriage. You two don’t have an emotional foundation. Besides, I know you love ."

"Like a sister," I said, alard at her possessive tone. "The reason I’m marrying Vanessa is irrelevant. She will be the mistress of the Jang family. My wife. There won’t be any other won."

"I don’t want to make trouble for you," she said. She dropped her gaze. "Vanessa’s not even paying attention to you. She’s hanging out with Carver Haynes. If you’re giving her face, why isn’t she doing the sa?"