the decision was crushing him, and he knew deep down that this wasn't just about a marriage contract. It was about his empire, his reputation, and

ria

oman who exuded control and power in every step. Gone were the soft, apologetic eyes that had once loo

but his voice faltered as he did. The words felt empty, hollow, like

g. She moved around him, circling him like a predator eyeing its prey.

r building in him, the pride that he'd long held onto, refusing to die quietly. "You think you can come in h

t I was the weak one, the one you could just discard when it suited you." She stopped in front of him, her presence overpo

words caught in his throat. She was rig

eone who had already won? His empire was collapsing under the weight of scandal. His name wa

d teeth, his hands clenching into fists. "I

re for your approval? For your love? I'm here to claim what's mine, what you stole from me." Her voice dropped to a whisper, but t

bending under the weight of her words. He wasn't the same man he'd been before. He had built an empire of ruthles

said, his voice softer now, more defeate

e a blade. "Sign the contract. Marry me. A

n who had believed in him when no one else did. She had trusted him. An

olding the cards. She was

painfully in his chest. Could he really do this? Could he

he knew he had

Maddox's heart skipped in his chest. He looked up to see Evelyn Stone standi

oice betraying a hint of pan

you the same thing, Maddox. I came to remind you that I'm

er eyes. "Oh, don't worry, Evelyn. Your tim

fiancée, the woman he was supposed to marry before everything fell apart, was standing in

t now, the truth was unfolding before

fix this, Maddox? You think Cambria is going to save you? You've made your bed. Now lie in it." She

know what's worse," he muttered under his breath, "th

the only ans

ng With

the decision was crushing him, and he knew deep down that this wasn't just about a marriage contract. It was about his empire, his reputation, and

ria

oman who exuded control and power in every step. Gone were the soft, apologetic eyes that had once loo

but his voice faltered as he did. The words felt empty, hollow, like

g. She moved around him, circling him like a predator eyeing its prey.

r building in him, the pride that he'd long held onto, refusing to die quietly. "You think you can come in h

t I was the weak one, the one you could just discard when it suited you." She stopped in front of him, her presence overpo

words caught in his throat. She was rig

eone who had already won? His empire was collapsing under the weight of scandal. His name wa

d teeth, his hands clenching into fists. "I

re for your approval? For your love? I'm here to claim what's mine, what you stole from me." Her voice dropped to a whisper, but t

bending under the weight of her words. He wasn't the same man he'd been before. He had built an empire of ruthles

said, his voice softer now, more defeate

e a blade. "Sign the contract. Marry me. A

n who had believed in him when no one else did. She had trusted him. An

olding the cards. She was

painfully in his chest. Could he really do this? Could he

he knew he had

Maddox's heart skipped in his chest. He looked up to see Evelyn Stone standi

oice betraying a hint of pan

you the same thing, Maddox. I came to remind you that I'm

er eyes. "Oh, don't worry, Evelyn. Your tim

fiancée, the woman he was supposed to marry before everything fell apart, was standing in

t now, the truth was unfolding before

fix this, Maddox? You think Cambria is going to save you? You've made your bed. Now lie in it." She

know what's worse," he muttered under his breath, "th

the only ans