The Tie That Binds (Serendipity, #1)

by Catharina Maura

The last few days have been such a blur. We haven’t even had a chance to discuss the details of our marriage. If the two of us have to live together, where will we be living?

He places a stack of documents on the table. At a glance I can tell what it is. It’s a copy of the various clauses relating to our marriage.

abide

“I’m happy to keep our marriage a secret, but this doesn’t mean I’ll condone cheating. As long as we’re legally tied to each other I expect you to be faithful to me, as I will be to you.” I frown. “What? That’s ridiculous. Do you seriously think you’ll be able to keep it in your pants for three years? You’re photographed with a different model every weekend.”

I’m a Devereaux. I never worked for DM Consultancy because I needed the money or the shares. That’s not why I married you, either. I did it because I loved your father like he was my own. We Devereauxs have more than enough money to fund the next couple of generations comfortably.”

“Rule number one,” he says. “We’ll be faithful to each other. Defy that rule and I’ll divorce you, shares be damned.”

“Rule number two. You’ll keep an appropriate distance from Dominic. I don’t want to hear any rumours about you two, or about any other men for that matter.”

Rule number three is that we keep our marriage a secret. I don’t want anyone to know beyond the people closest to us. If anyone needs to be told I’d prefer that we discuss it beforehand. In three years we’ll divorce, and I don’t want to be known as your ex-wife for the rest of my life.”

“At least here I’ll have your mum and Dominic. I know what your working hours are like. If we lived in the apartment, I’d always be alone.”

He’d never let his older brother down like that. He might be okay breaking my trust, but he’d never break Daniel’s.

There’s a letter next to it that wasn’t there when I left the room. I frown when I realise that my dad’s wax seal is on it. I pick it up with shaking hands.

you’re reading this letter, then unfortunately, that means I’m no longer here and I’ve had to leave you behind. It also means you’ve chosen to honour my wishes and married Daniel. I wish I could’ve been the one to walk you down the aisle. I have no doubt you looked beautiful, and I wish I’d been there for this important occasion.

Give your marriage with Daniel an honest chance. Don’t keep him at a distance and don’t avoid him. Let him in, Alyssa. He’s not just an excellent business partner. I truly believe he’d be an excellent husband to you as well. You might not see it now, but one day you’ll understand.

My greatest accomplishment in this life is and always has been you. I know you’ll continue to make me proud and I’ll be watching over you as you conquer the world. I love you, baby girl Daddy

I lie back on my bed as a sob escapes my lips, my heart shattering. For the first time since my dad passed away, I fall apart. I cry until I’ve got no tears left and stare up at the ceiling. Eventually, I drag myself out of bed and into my bathroom.

“I knew you’d be crying,” he says, his voice soft. He walks up to me and gets into my bed. I’m surprised, but welcome the comfort he’s offering me. He takes me in his arms and shifts so my head is resting on his chest. I sniff and he carefully wipes away the tears that won’t stop falling. “I’m sorry,” he whispers. “It’s not your fault.”

When is the last time Daniel hugged me? It must’ve been years ago. He spoiled me rotten when I was a child, but things changed when I got older. He started to treat me differently and slowly but surely, we grew apart. “Thank you,” I whisper.

Daniel is gone when I wake up, but I’m sure he spent all night with me. I don’t remember the last time I slept so peacefully.

I’m not the only one ogling Daniel. Lucy is leaning against one of the kitchen counters, looking at Daniel appreciatively. She’s barely wearing anything. I’m fond of skimpy nightgowns, but hers cannot be called a nightgown at all. Not even remotely.

I ignore the brief jab of pain in my chest and the sudden feeling of rejection. It makes no sense for me to feel this way.

To my knowledge, Daniel hasn’t spent many nights here since he moved into his downtown apartment. He was certainly never here when I was. I’m pretty sure I’d remember him wandering around the house half-naked.

I feel strangely possessive. I don’t want Lucy staring at him the way she was, even though our marriage isn’t real. Daniel finishes cooking breakfast with a bright smile on his face and I start to set the table.

Dominic is far leaner than Daniel is and I guess I just got used to seeing Dominic like this.

guess it’s because I’ve not seen him in such an informal setting in years. He’s always in work mode, regardless of whether I see him at the office or at my house with my dad. This is the first time in years that I’ve seen him looking so… relaxed, and so casually dressed. He’d usually spend his weekends at his apartment. I haven’t seen him here in a really long time.

Daniel crosses his arms and stares his brother down. “Alyssa lost her father and just moved into a new place. Her best friend, the one person she should’ve been able to count on, was too busy screwing his girlfriend to realise she shouldn’t be left alone. Of course I was there to console her. The question is, why weren’t you?” I look up in surprise.

I’m not a priority in his life. Not anymore. I can’t keep pitying myself or keep vying for his attention. Enough is enough. Friendship isn’t something I should ever have to beg for.

“Fine? Fine? We both know it isn’t fine when you say it’s ‘fine’.”

You haven’t been there. It’s like you don’t even care. I was there for you when your dad died, but now that I’m in the same situation, you’re not there for me.”

I nod reluctantly, hoping he won’t let me down yet again.

Oh....

“Oh, Dominic and I are going out for ice cream.” Daniel walks up to me and I automatically take a step away, my back hitting my closed bedroom door. He puts his forearm against the door and leans into me, almost caging me in with his body. “You’re going for ice cream dressed like that?”

He walks me to his car and opens the door for me. I sit down quietly. He seems angry and I have no idea why.

It’s a black metallic card similar to a credit card, but instead of numbers on the front, it’s got the golden Devereaux family crest on it. The same one as Devereaux Inc’s company logo. Sometimes it’s easy to forget that DM Consultancy isn’t Daniel’s only job. The main reason my dad didn’t make Daniel the full-time CEO is because Daniel doesn’t have time for it. Besides doing this he’s also on the board for Devereaux Inc.

“Put it away and keep it on you. It’ll give you access to any facility owned by the Devereaux family. We always have at least one table for VVIPS at every one of our restaurants and at least one room in our hotels. It’ll also give you discount at all the shopping malls and other stores owned by us. Every Devereaux has one of these cards. This one is currently registered to me, but I’ll transfer it to you tonight.”

I want to stand up for him, but realistically I know Daniel is right. Dominic does have a bit of a penchant for showing off. Putting a card like this in his hands would only make his behaviour worse.

PDA?

“Yeah, there’s a girl. I’m not sure I’m in love with her, per se. But there’s someone that I can’t seem to get off my mind.”

Its her aaaaaaaa

think I might have a shot now, but like I said, it’s complicated.” I tense and unintentionally glare at him. “Yes. And you’re married.”

Omg it's u dumb girl hahaahhaha

Since around the time I did my MBA, I guess.” My heart tightens and I try my best not to show how crestfallen I suddenly feel. “That was four years ago. Quite some time to hold a torch for someone.”

Since she was unavailable until recently, she must’ve just gotten out of a relationship or she just got divorced. Considering Daniel’s type of tall skinny models, it won’t be that hard to figure it out. Who got out of a long-term relationship recently?

There’s no need. If she’s the one for me, then she’ll still be there in three years.” I laugh. “You believe in fate?”

make you a bet. If I propose within the next four years and she says yes, then you’ll owe me a new Aston Martin. It’ll have to be whichever model has just come out. If you win, I’ll buy you an apartment the equivalent of the Aston.” I laugh and shake his hand. “That’s a deal, Daniel. I’ll start looking at apartments.”

nepotism,

Much to my dismay, a guy I know all too well follows behind Kate, Daniel’s secretary. I stare at my ex in surprise. What the hell is he doing here? My eyes slowly drop to the name tag around his neck. “You’ve gotta be kidding me,” I murmur.

Our breakup was messy, to say the least. Jake was the guy I thought things might actually work out with. I attended university using my mother’s surname.

It’s the reason he told me to use Alyssa Carter at work too. Our top executives know who I am, but beyond that most of my colleagues are blissfully unaware, as was Jake.

Right when our relationship got serious, he told me we’d never have a future because I’d never be good enough for him and would never fit into his life. He said that his family was rich and they wouldn’t ever accept a Cinderella into the family. He told me that the two of us could have fun until we graduated, but it’d never be more than that. I’m glad he showed me his true colours a few months into our relationship, rather than stringing me along even longer.

DM’s executive programme is one of the toughest in the country, and my dad would’ve kicked me off without remorse if I wasn’t good enough. He warned me beforehand that he’d fire me and make me work for someone else if I couldn’t cut it at DM. I worked harder than anyone else here to make sure that never happened.

“No, Lyss. You’ve seen some of the girls I’ve been photographed with.”

We’ve been married for two weeks and he never once showed me how much pain he’s in, but the agony I’m seeing in his eyes as he stares at my dad’s desk tells me everything I need to know.

I smile when I’m done and pull back to find Daniel staring at me with wide eyes. I realise what I did and cradle my hand. “Oh, I’m so sorry, Daniel. I didn’t mean to…” I feel mortified. In the last couple of days, the lines between Daniel and I have begun to blur. I’ve gotten so used to him throwing his arm around my shoulder or playing with my hair that I didn’t think much of it.