iliar voice, Bethany

st the frame with folded arms, his lips cu

quickly grabbed a towel to cover herself, panic wri

h sarcasm. "Shouldn't that question be mine?

at

ed around the room, and only then did she notice

ent comple

actually

sment spreading uncontrollably. "I'm sorry. I must h

against herself with one hand and hastily gathering

im, Connor's hand shot o

ng tone. "If you have any sense at all, stop p

and shoulder, a trace of disdain flickering in his gaz

voice cut into Bet

erstood, yet she found herself

his room, nor could she deny wha

bitterness choking her words be

eleased her witho

ven a second. She hurried o

treating figure, his expressi

hameless

rrational fear of germs, that earlier car ride wi

t used. A faint frown formed between his brows before he

she shut the door behind her and washed herself again and again-three times

air, she pulled out her phon

left her comple

lineage, the most dominant an

Roberts family. If that was true, he might actually ha

d from outside. "Miss Nelson, are you ready? Mr.

d off the hairdryer, ran her fingers through her s

y on the sofa, idly scrolling on a tablet. His shirt sleeve

lifted his head, his expressi

er her shoulders. Her face looked clean and soft now, and her bright eyes gav

self unable to tear h

collarbone were too

the tablet down, and slid two documents across the table t

pposite him, skimmed the papers briefly

aving her mother, then she

caused a subtle shi

d shocked, yet now she signed so

his grandfather's arrangement. It would last just one year,

llect the papers. "If everything is fine, we'll head to

contain her excitement, surprised at h

pped him. "Um, can I ask you for a favor?" She spoke

t her. "What does clause th

y stif

t neither party would interfere

d no right to ask

, she tried again. "It's ver

othing to do with me

ly collapsed, disappoint

n, she stopped pretending altogether. An

is assistant quickly following behind, leavin

her marriage, yet it

brief hesitation, he spoke carefully. "Sir, Miss Nelson looked like she

ze icy. "She's just a woman without res

received informat

nt last night with her half-sister. The fresh marks

explanation-she h

he assistant said quic

bering something, his expression shifted sligh