Because my father's going to take away my CEO position.

No, he won't. He knows I'm the only one capable and willing.

Does it even matter anymore?

"Sebastian, where's Georgia?" Mom repeats.

I shake my head, confessing, "I don't know."

"What do you mean you don't know? She's your wife," my father states.

"I don't know," I repeat and scrub my hands over my face, feeling like I'm on the brink of a nervous breakdown. Yet I shouldn't feel sorry for myself because obviously, I've done something wrong that Georgia's this upset with me.

My father booms, "Stop stalling and start talking, Sebastian! We aren't getting any younger!"

I finally give in. And once I start talking, I can't stop. I admit, "I convinced Georgia to become my fake wife."

The blood drains from my mother's face. "What?"

Alexander's eyes widen, and my father's glare deepens.

"Why on Earth would you do something like that?" Mom questions.

I answer, "I didn't want to deal with you pushing all of the Dallas socialite wannabes on me. Plus, I didn't want the whole town talking about my failed relationships."

Hurt and dismay fill Mom's expression. "So, you lied to us?"

My insides quiver. "Yeah, I did. I'm sorry."

"No, you're not," my father asserts.

"Yes, I am," I declare.

My father scowls. "What are you sorry about? Are you sorry you convinced a nice woman to do something for your selfish benefit?"

Bile crawls up my throat. I swallow it down and claim, "Yes. All I have is regret, and I wish I wouldn't have done it."

"Why would Georgia agree to something like that?" Alexander asks.

My gut dives again. "Because I offered her money."

"But Georgia doesn't care about money," my mom states.

"Yes, I know. But she wanted money for her cupcake bakery. I offered her a hundred grand, and she negotiated a million. I thought she was another greedy woman trying to use me for my money. I didn't know what she wanted it for," I admit.

"She's nothing of the sort," Mom professes.

A wave of shame overtakes me. "I know that now. She's not anything like it. I didn't know she had plans to franchise her cupcake business, which made sense why she got me up to a million. But I know that doesn't even matter."

The room turns silent, filling with more tension.

I add, "I don't understand why she left the ranch and won't talk to me. Everything was perfect between us in Iceland."

Mom drills her blue eyes into mine, making me cringe inside. She finally shakes her head, steps as close to me as possible, and jabs me in the chest. "I never thought the day would come where I would say you disappointed me, but you have. I've always been proud of you, Sebastian, but I have to say, this is beneath you."