My Stand-In Groom Is A Secret Tycoon by Lydia Pierce

Chapter 2 A Bank Card

The Rhodes family lived in a nice two-story cottage in a wealthy part of Riverdale, complete with a spacious parking pad in front. A low-profile Volkswagen pulled up in front of their door.

Audrey hopped out, her long white wedding dress getting caught on the seat. She felt a tear as she stepped out-there was a big hole in the hem.

But surprisingly, she didn't seem bothered at all. Instead, she quickly ripped off the trailing tail of the dress and glanced sideways at the closed villa door nearby.

"Do you want me to come in with you?" a low, mellow voice asked from behind her.

Audrey suddenly remembered she wasn't alone. She turned to look at her new husband from their whirlwind marriage, feeling a bit awkward. She touched her nose nervously and smiled. "No, I've got this on my own." Even though they'd just tied the knot, she wasn't quite ready for Alistair to meet her family.

It felt like saying he wasn't part of her world yet. Luckily, Alistair didn't push the issue. He simply pulled out a dark green bank card and handed it to her without a word. "Take this."

It was a dark green bank card. He held it out between his slim fingers. Audrey blinked in surprise. "What's this for?"

I can't wait around," Alistair explained calmly. "Just head to our new place and grab whatever you need.

buying a new house in Riverdale and hoped she would move in with him.

over the financial reins like this, basically making

She didn't know much about him, aside from the fact that

house. But rejecting his offer outright didn't seem

gently placed her hand on his wrist, pushing the card back toward him with a flirtatious smile. "Come on, you know we haven't even gotten our license yet. Aren't you worried I might just run off with your money?" "Not a chance," Alistair replied, raising his enchanting eyes slightly, a playful glimmer dancing in them. "Unless your proposal was just a whim, and you have no intention

his lips, so devoid of emotion yet charged with

before she could finish her thought, Alistair had already slipped the

ought to do my part, even if we're not officially husband and wife." He looked at her with a serious expression, an undeniable presence radiating from him. Before Audrey could respond, he continued, "Just take it. It's not a huge amount, but

Audrey clenched it gently.

of it as my way of trying to earn

buddies in Willodale knew that he made the first move and got shot down. He insisted, and she sighed in exasperation. "Fine, I'll just keep

she was determined not to touch the money. She still didn't know if they could make it work, so there was no point in spending his

thoughts, but he didn't push it. For him,