Chas

g, I woke up on

I couldn't open them,

as passed, leaving behind

e, and an open laptop

said softly. "I lo

the screen

Council's ancient and complex laws re

ic clause, "but there's a loophole. A standard prenuptial agree

of hope ignite

said, his jaw clenched.

ok my

st do thi

the gleaming, spotless lob

vate elevator, ignoring the

ontrol password

ned directly, leading

mahogany desk, his ph

his face darke

o the phone. "Get her out

e door and loc

toward him, my footsteps echoi

of printed legal doc

as loud and

at it, th

u signed the agreement. Y

liament will not show any leniency to Alpha, who openly commits ad

ile va

ried to intimidat

desk, a familiar, vio

laying wi

e and refused

draft of an anonymous email that I can send anytime. It contain

I don't have any

didn'

antage. "I wonder what your very traditional and powerful father will think when he learns t

drained fr

somethi

only real weakne

lenched, as if he were see

companion,

silence, he slumped bac

eming to be ripped from his th

diately, "I don't

somethi

even mor

en abandoned for years. I want it. The property, the title deed, e

d at me,

perty was worthless to him. This was

lawyer, telling him to draft the elec

document was signed and s

remony," he said, his voice laced with venom. "After tha

et that displayed my

ile of triumph c

y," I said,

lked out withou

doors slid shut, my ad

s felt

the elevator car, my body trembling

wo

el empty

he first floor, Sloan was pacing an

side, her eyes

right? What

spee

d the tablet i

en at me, her expression a mixt

it," she

et, her arms firmly wr

the building, the cold

ng was lik

bottle of water, trying to calm t

starting the engine. "We can't pay

ndow, watching the

rmly. "A real job. One th

, his expres

r in the Neutral Zone. They work with all th

I interrupte

thing lef

worthless property, and a

d around, the tires

as the SUV merged

kill I had kept

I obtained for m

ge that was of no use t

ng me away from my past and

ten years, I've take