6: His P

want to di

hest and forced a smile that didn't

ll clutched against Mara's chest, then climbed back to her au

d somewhere in the corridor outside, and the only sound insi

ne. Her thumb rubbed the edge of the phone case,

stopping an arm's length from her. Her arms were fold

he phone until her knuckles paled

what all this is about," Celine threat

you think," M

Mara's shoulders curled inward as she shrank back, the phone slipping

. T

nocked on

r came into the room. He looked around and noticed the tense atmosphere. His

truding, but I'm loo

Celine replied, fea

m you that your outstanding b

t Bryan? She never expected he would be so fast about it. Celine felt a heavy burden lifted off her shoulders, and

. His fingers rested on her wrist, his eyes on the monitor, and

, her transfer papers are being prepa

o sign them?" Ce

.. in five minutes' time, you'll hea

together at her waist to hide their

he doctor gave a no

aunt. "Do you know

tammered. "I wanted to ask

her, causing her to shiver. Mara's gaze slid to t

d a marriage cont

ld you do such a th

oing to help," Ce

without you signing

n't k

t her forehead. She knew shouting wouldn't help. "Celine,

ow will I pay back the m

Celine was right. How would they be able to pay Brya

out how to p

t a mocking laugh, short a

doing this for

understand is that you once helped Bryan, but you don't wa

kept in the heart than

me breaking the contract with Bryan." Celine took her b

ou don't u

ly. "Alright then, do not talk about me breaking the contract again." She continu

. T

is back straight against the leather chair, a pen resting be

is eyes from the

o fingers. He held a phone out in front of him like something that might go off.

h of

au

d over the paper.

s,

alm up, and Harry crossed the c

rmured, pressin

t Bryan twisted his face away and held the phone at a dist

yan's eyes were b

dinner today by nine o'clock,"

not c

r. Your grandfather." Paul'

not coming." Bryan ended the call

against his teeth. He knew what the dinner was about. He had known the moment he heard Paul's tone.

ool," he cu

ont of him, his eyes following every small movement

tared at the water ring it lef

. In all the years he had worked beside Bryan, he had never once he

ke I'm joking

s head hard. "It's just surprising th

. T

ounded at

n," Bry

screamed wealth: a tailored coat, polished shoes that caught the light, a watch that winked at every step. Sharp jawl

?" he said in a

, Kane," Harry

made Harry quite close to him, and

. Been a l

see you again

nds, his gaze flat and unmoving, then returned

ane asked, dropping onto the couch

ace, not a get-togethe

ane's tone

, since you don't have a business,"

ways throw a

ou get useful

om one foot to the other. He felt like a spirit in the roo

er lifted from the page in dismissal. Wit

eft out," he said, laughing, and wiped the corner

ed. "When are you

ait... I... I do

yan said, h

here and you wa

d they were hard as glass. "You'v

t us t

done t

ane couldn't help b

e," Bryan s

ate

Bryan turned a page. "It does

d in his cheek. He pressed his palms flat against his knees and let the air out slowly

you yes

on a vid

the diff

"There's no point

ryan said, his eyes full

aid, changing the topic. "He'll be

t lift his

opened. "Aren

hould

rying out loud!" Kane th

ryan sa

re hop

like

ne asked, confusion wri

I spell

o the couch, one ankle propped on his knee, drumming

. And

om him for like t

dd

is it

you're th

he's in the military zone, and once he's

lled conce

rows pulled together, confus

this dumb?" Brya

" Kane said

re sen

aid, pressing a hand to his chest a

lowly, and the warmth drained from his face.

snapped his fingers. "Your expressi

w me to rep

said, and stood up, smooth

rds the door when he remembered

Bryan's p