le

trangely quiet t

qu

gled and heavy. Every word my father and Vivian had said replayed

ly going t

use I wa

use I lo

I had nowher

door,not the harsh kin

d answer, the

, followed closely by Ava. Ava's lips curved into

vian said flatly.

ed, though I already felt the

Blackwood," Ava replied smugly.

ali

t like a dea

anding in the living room was a man in a sharp suit, his pos

" he said. "Mr. Bl

est, not with curiosity, but with assessment. A

kly, smoothly. "T

fr

regards. The wedding arrangements will begin immediatel

bored. I stood there, silent, invisib

en paused. "The wedding w

d softly. "Congratulations, sister," she sa

ed to

ted t

the world knew me by another woman's name,and the m

der Bl

ds tucked into my pockets as I watched the city pulse below

way I l

he bottom. One year. No emotions. No complications. A simple ex

ffed

Ha

. Ready to trade anything for luxury and status. She had ag

dig

e. Ethan would have delivered the final

id calmly into the interc

akness I couldn't afford. Whatever expectat

ge would be

e window, a faint smi

ready, Ava H

. Alexander Blackwoo

**

office opened w

in this world ha

randmo

r life. She was elegant in a simple way, her silver hair neatly styled, her eyes

g," she said calm

ightly toward her. "E

asked. "Are you

wered withou

s not the truth. I know you better than you know yourself, Alexander. You can't ma

tered for on

ing against it. "It's a contract," I admi

t her voice remained

hrugging lightly. "She

ecision has a cost," she said quietly. "And

me, I didn't res

n love," my grandmother continued. "Do you

ay, my jaw

or her," Margar

urning effortlessly. "You worry t

and left my office, her words lin

would agree to marry a man like me,I waved the thought awa