her hesitation evaporated, burned away by the fire of her desp

" she said, her voice devoid of its ea

row, his expression inv

nce it started. "I need to hire someone to act as my boyfri

ock. There was none. He was perfectly still, his attention c

d then, after a few months, we can stage a peaceful breakup." She laid out the terms of her plan, the one she'd just in

ni

ok a step closer, and the space between them seemed to shrink, cha

d, his words precise and devastatingly accurate. "Your mother w

It was a temporary fix, a fl

ystematically dismantling her fragile plan.

she asked, a note of defea

yes dark and serious. T

t we get

stant sirens, the chatter of passersby-it all faded into

Are you

His expression w

"A marriage certificate is legally binding. It's the only thi

ed through her panic. She couldn't argue w

ered, shaking her head. "W

nt of humor. "And we know your brother Leo. It's a be

terical laug

"A marriage of convenience. We set the terms, the duration, and the exit clause. Financially in

nd yet... it was also a key. A key to the cage her mother had built around her. The

any sign that this was a joke. Sh

was the most important quest

m also facing some... family pressure of my own

piece of the puzzle that made the whole insane pic

weight of the decision pressing down on

desperation in her eyes had been

r voice clear and st

most painful, surged through Hunter. He

ncing, we should do it as soon as possible." He paused, t

ted. If she was going to do this, she was going

he turned, heading back toward the coffee