Chapter Three

Nerves had Frankie wringing her hands the closer they got to her parents' house. She wasn't sure why she should be nervous; after all, she wasn't going to be introducing Levi as her new husband. She was only going to discuss the inheritance stipulations with her parents. Though there was little doubt in her mind that her parents would try to get round the stipulations somehow, or try to convince her to refuse to conform to ensure they'd get her money. Frankie knew if she didn't want her parents to get their hands on what was rightfully hers, she would need to find a husband. She just didn't want it to be Levi.

Who just then let out a low whistle. "Damn... this is where your parents live?" he asked, sounding in awe as he turned onto the driveway and the ridiculously big mansion came into view.

Frankie also looked up at the house, trying to see it from his perspective. The mansion was ridiculously loud in its proclamation of how much money her family had. In fact, it screamed overcompensation. Like small dick syndrome type overcompensation. Though she didn't really want to think about her father like that. The man was horrible enough as it was. "It looks impressive, I know. And that's what matters most to them," she said, still all up in her head. Levi glanced at her, as if trying to figure out how she could mean that. "I'll just say that you're a friend who's helping me get to an appointment after this, if that's okay," the psychology student stopped his considerations in their tracks.

"Yeah, whatever works," he shrugged. It wasn't like he would be seeing these people again any time soon. He followed behind her, taking in the foyer.

"Miss Francesca, welcome home," the doorman caught their attention. "Your parents are waiting for you out on the balcony," he added.

"Thank you, Stuart," Frankie gave him a smile. Even though he had to call her by her full name, he was one of the staff that she knew she could count on to be nice to her and supportive in small ways that were not obvious to her parents but that made all the difference to her.

"I guess I'm not surprised you have a doorman," Levi commented under his breath as they made their way through the foyer and up to the first level.

His wife shot him a glare. "My parents have a doorman," she corrected him. As much as she appreciated Stuart, she didn't need a doorman in her life to keep things manageable. "Just, try not to say too much, okay?" Frankie instructed him just before she made her way out onto the balcony.

"How nice of you to join us Francesca, at last," a snooty woman said full of disdain before anyone else could say anything. Levi found himself instantly disliking the plastic blonde; there was no way her looks were natural and her outfit probably cost more than a month's rent.

"Morning mother, father," Frankie said with a sigh, knowing there was no use in trying to point out that she was still on time, or that she had brought company with her. The knot in her stomach tightened; this already horrific lunch was not off to a good start.

Levi hovered in the background as much as he was able to, after accepting a drink from the butler. He didn't say anything, as Frankie requested, but he listened as much as he could despite his hangover. He was starting to see why she'd been in knots over this lunch. Neither parent was talking to her with any affection, or even basic respect. It seemed that, to her parents, her body shape, her choice of career and her manner were all lacking in one way or another. And this was before they touched upon the topic of the strings attached to her inheritance, the reason he found himself there in the first place.

More than once, Levi found himself clenching his fist to keep from commenting or standing up for her. Were they always this critical and demeaning to her? Judging by her defeated expression and hunched in shoulders, as if trying to make herself smaller, the answer to that question was yes. 

"Just give up, Francesca. We all know no one is going to marry you," her father said, eyeing her up and down. It was clear what he meant; no one was interested in a chubby girl, no matter how rich she might end up being.

Frankie could feel the words bubble up, and tried to stop them forming on her lips, but they had left her mouth before she'd made the conscious decision to say them. "Funny you should say that, because I already got married," she said. She thoroughly enjoyed the way her parents' eyes almost popped out of their sockets, even if she was vaguely aware of Levi stiffening beside her. "In fact, meet my husband, Levi..." Fuck, she didn't know his last name.

"Levi Connolly, pleasure to meet you," he thankfully jumped in, stretching out his hand for them to shake. Which they both ignored.

"Husband?" her mother said dismissively.

"This is some kind of ploy, to swindle..." the Hanlan patriarch sputtered.

"I assure you, I'm most definitely her husband," Levi grinned, holding up his left hand to show off the wedding band that now sat on his ring finger. Frankie could've kissed him in gratitude. "Right, pumpkin?" he winked at her as he put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her in close to his body. "That's right, darling," she simpered sweetly as she looked up at him, fluttering her eyelashes at him. She tried not to freeze when she realised that he was leaning in to give her a kiss.

"Alright, alright, that's enough of that vulgarity," her father spat out after their lips barely brushed each other. And Frankie bit back a smirk; of course, any public display of affection was out of the question. But everyone knew of her father's affairs and bits on the side in private. "There is no way that this marriage is real, and I'll prove it," he threatened his own daughter.

"There is nothing to prove," Levi assured him. "Now if you'll excuse us, we have some packing to do," he gave his parting shot before he led Frankie back inside from the balcony and out the front door of that monstrous mansion.

"Oh god, I'm so sorry," Frankie blurted out in a panic as soon as they were in the car and pulling out of the driveway.

"Frankie, don't worry, I volunteered, remember?" Levi surprised her by taking hold of her hand in an attempt to comfort her while still getting them away from her parents.

"Yeah, but… how can you still want to, after…?" the blonde started to say, not even sure what words to use to describe that humiliating encounter with her parents. Lunch with them always left her feeling insecure and lacking, but today, with the hangover, they felt especially mean.

"After that vile attack by people who are supposed to love you?" her husband cut through the bullshit better than she thought he would. All she could do was shrug. "If they won't support you, I will. We'll make sure you get everything you deserve, and they get nothing. They don't deserve anything," he went into a bit of a tirade and it was a heady experience to have someone other than her grandmother stand up for her.

Frankie gave his hand a squeeze when she realised that they were still holding each other. "Thank you, Levi. You have no idea how much I appreciate this," she said with a small smile. She saw him glance at her for a second, before he smiled as well. "Now, why do we need to pack?" she asked, looking a little confused and making him bark out a laugh.

"One of us will have to move in with the other to prove to them that this marriage is real. We can't give them any reason to think otherwise, right?"