ternoon light stretched across the hardwood floor in long, amber r

at the din

before him, his long fingers folded neatly beside it. He looked up, his expres

t d

s your day. Just a co

im. The folder faced her, its f

is t

ad

n Walker and Emily Carter as the parties est

lummeted into

term, they would agree to begin the legal process for divorce and cooperate with the required proceedings. No physical intimacy. No emot

me, praying she had misread them.

I'm after y

't a qu

after," he replied evenly.

. He wasn't accusing her in a burst of anger; he was treat

'm after," she repeate

N

nother single day. Because Daniel made it agonizingly clear I was an unwanted obligation, not a guest. I didn't marry you for your apar

air legs scraping a

your money, your luxury home, or your dynasty's wealth. And I refuse

bed the

at waited at Olivia's: Daniel's snide contempt, her sister torn in

ning. She wasn't going to let Ethan's cyni

eathed her pen, and pulle

s of feelings. No unnecessary complications. If nothing changes

and trembled once, then steadie

gan, a sudden fracture appear

kept her eyes on the pap

a small black inkpad. "I need your thu

inst the pad and marked each copy beside her signa

r tu

each signature. He returned one copy to the folder and

asked, her voice

light nod.

er bedroom, stoppin

eyes head-on. "But don't expect me to act cold and emotionless around here. I'

e, she stepped inside and shu

Her hands were still shaking-not from regret, but from the burning rage of be

fused

zzed. She me

. Six months. No feelings.

flashed back w

you need me to c

m more than fine. I'm goi

text fro

Ethan directly to Walker Gr

r bookstore's margins tightened, she designed intricate copper

wide in mid-flight, shading each feather with precise

pen and quiet footsteps cross to the kitchen.

of two strangers occupying the same roof

cony. The plants she had rescued from Olivia a hardy fern, two

oor clicked o

till damp. For a long while, neither spoke, stan

hurt you," he sa

eyes on the f

that didn't come easily. "I don't know ho

austed. Beneath his corporate reserve and rigid rules, sh

tep closer t

ntrol every variable in life, Ethan. Sometim

n mattered, but it didn't erase the sting of his suspici

contract and placed it in the

index card, she w

t what you think I am. And when this period

signed contract. The drawer clo

challenge would be remembering each time Ethan allowed his guarded w