onto the gravel driveway, Joshua's mind wasn't on the fight ahead. It

had, for the tenth time, dismissed the idea of him marrying Gwyneth Kent. She was perfect, they'd said. From t

hua had swerved, the tires of his car hissing on the wet asp

splash, drenched to the bone. Her grocery bag h

y Ho

She didn't scream or cry. She just lifted her head, rain plastering strands of dark hair

to buy his way out of the inconvenience. But her ga

service entrance of Elysium. A well-known spot for high

d bloomed in his mind. If his family found Gwyneth too "suitab

r raw, dangerous beauty was the antithes

, the rain dripping from his hair. "I need a fi

at him as if

or money?" she'd shot back, her voice dripping with an offen

tion. She knew her value. Sh

ed your account number," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Or we can

ies at her feet. After a tense silence, she recited the numbers, her voice clipped and cold.

look on her face shifted from scorn to sho

old and transactional. "The more you anger my family, the better. N

a firewall for himself. He despised the thought

ned groceries in the gutter. Then, she'd looked at him and

who would sell anything, including her dignity, for the right price. He'

ced at Avery. Her stunt in the car moments ago made him realize how naive his "no contact"

kground to make Gwyneth's perfection shine even brighter. Any reaction he had

ng his part, turned and offered a hand to Avery. The mask