She took Ruby’s hand. “Our marriage, it may have been an arrangement, but what I feel for you is real. I love you, Ruby. And in the face of that, all of this—the inheritance, the money—none of it matters. You’ve given me something priceless. So I don’t care if our marriage is deemed real or not. I don’t care if I get my inheritance, as long as I have you.”
Ruby’s hand trembled in hers. “Yvonne…”
Ruby reached out and put a hand on Yvonne’s cheek, tilting Yvonne’s face up to gaze into her eyes.
“I… I love you too.”
Yvonne’s heart surged. She stood up, swept Ruby into her arms and kissed her urgently. She never wanted to let Ruby go.
Bill cleared his throat loudly. “All right. I’ve heard enough.”
Yvonne broke away from Ruby and sat back down. Her hand still held Ruby’s, and the warmth in her chest remained. She didn’t care about the money anymore. She’d find a way to help Nita. As long as she had Ruby, everything would be all right.
Bill looked at them both. “I don’t know exactly what’s going on here, but it’s impossible to deny that this relationship of yours is genuine. Your brother’s protests aside, you have a witness, a reliable, reputable member of the community who has known you your whole life. You certainly appear to be in love. In my eyes, you’ve met all the conditions to be given your inheritance. I see no reason to withhold the money from you.”
Ruby squeezed Yvonne’s hand and smiled at her. This was it. The money was theirs.
“What?” Nicholas sputtered, his face turning red. “No. This isn’t fair! That money is mine. Can’t you see that this is all a scam?”
“Nicholas,” Bill began.
Yvonne held up her hand. “I’ll handle this.” She stood up and walked over to Nicholas, putting her hand on his arm. “You lost, Nicholas. Accept it gracefully. Leave.”
Nicholas’s mouth gaped open and shut, his face getting even redder.
“Before you go.” Yvonne gave him a withering glare, her grip on his arm tightening just enough for him to feel it. “If you ever hurt Ruby again. If you so much as go near Ruby again, I will end you.”
For a moment, Nicholas stood there, staring back at Yvonne. Then, without a word, he pulled himself from her grip and stormed out of the room. With luck, this would be the last time Yvonne ever saw Nicholas. Now that she had her inheritance, she didn’t need to go to those family dinners anymore. She had no reason to keep toxic people like Nicholas and her stepmother in her life any longer.
Bill shut the file on his desk. “That certainly was dramatic.” He addressed Yvonne. “As per the terms of the inheritance, I’ll transfer half the funds to you now and the rest in nine months. Provided you’re still married, that is.”
“We will be,” Ruby said.
“Then it’s settled. The money will be in your account by this evening. And Yvonne?”
“Yes?” Yvonne said.
“I knew your mother, back before you were born. I have no doubt she’d be proud of the woman you’ve become.”
Ruby and Yvonne left Bill’s office. Ruby’s head was spinning. She still couldn’t believe everything that had just happened.
She turned to her wife. “Yvonne.”
Yvonne took her hand. “Ruby.”
Beside them, Madison cleared her throat. “I should get going. I’ll leave you two to it.”
Yvonne grabbed Madison’s arm. “Wait. I need to thank you for what you did in there. For being our witness. For showing me how much of a fool I’ve been.”
“That’s what friends are for. Besides, I couldn’t just stand by and watch everything fall apart between the two of you. I had to give you a push.” Madison smiled. “Now, if the two of you will excuse me, I’m going to go tell Blair how everything went.”
“You told her the truth about us?” Yvonne asked.
“I kept it a secret at first, but you know how she is. It’s impossible to keep anything from her.”
Yvonne frowned. “If Blair knew about everything, why did she keep trying to invite us to dinner?”
“What can I say? She thought the two of you make a good couple.”
Yvonne shook her head. “Just go. And enjoy your honeymoon.”
“We will.” Madison pulled them both in for a hug before walking off.
“Now,” Yvonne took Ruby’s hand again. “Where were we?”
“I just can’t believe it,” Ruby said. “Everything worked out in the end. You got the money. You can help Nita now.”
“You’re right. The money is ours. You’ll get your share, too. But everything I said in there is true. None of that matters to me, not anymore. This marriage of ours was never real. It was never meant to last. But I don’t ever want it to end. I want to spend my life with you. And I promise I’ll never play games with your heart again.”
Ruby’s heart swelled. “I know. I believe you. I trust you. And I’m sorry, too. I’m sorry for the horrible things I said to you. I was so cruel. None of it was true.” She locked eyes with Yvonne. “I meant what I said in there too. I love you, Yvonne.”
“I love you too.”
Yvonne leaned in to kiss her. Ruby deepened the kiss, warmth rising within her. God, how she’d missed her Mistress’s lips. Not to mention all the other parts of her.
Sensing the longing in Ruby’s kiss, Yvonne broke away. “Why don’t we go home and celebrate?”
Ruby smiled. “What did you have in mind?”
“Let’s just say, I’m not planning to make you a candlelit dinner.” Yvonne leaned in close, her
