ia

n hitting the glass echoed in t

shrank back slightly, letting

cold metal casing of the Montblanc pen. The moment

ble. I let my wris

lass coffee table and rolled a few inches away, leaving

together. A hard line of irri

nd, squeezing it tight as if trying to stop a painfu

ctly. "My wrist. The old injury is acting up a

had walked miles in the snow to bring him hot soup at his office. I had slipped on the icy steps outside h

. For one brief second, his expression stiffened. He

o push the papers aw

look like a child's scribble. If I sign such an important family document lik

e stared at me with an intense, predatory focus. He was loo

. I let one tear spill over my

onizing seconds. I could hear my

eath. He reached over, grabbed the

eriority. "We will do it tomorrow. After the Hamptons fami

th, letting my shoulde

ght. She is a crucial business partner for the Dalton family. I expect you to b

lms of my hands. "I understand

e paused in the doorway and looked b

A second later, the sound of the

elted off my face instantly. My tears

k ink off the glass, pressing down so hard my knuckles ached.

iny print at the bottom. *The female party shall have no right to interfer

ntract. It was a legally

. I stopped in front of the dress I had prepared for tomorrow night. It was

ooth fabric. My other hand moved down

ought I was just a stupid orphan who would

ame, Holden," I whispered to the empty close