ithout

alone in the backseat of his black Maybach. The city lights blurred behind the tin

s against his knee,

enger seat, turning slightly to face him. "S

ze was fixed on the street ou

uiet," Amanda added

s?" he asked af

inked. "E

Leah. Was s

posed. Quiet. Didn't ask questions

climber. Not a woman looking for attention. She hadn't smiled once during the meet

eyes fierce, like someone used to bei

at. They reminded him

the purpose,

You don't have to do this. There are

calms rumors, solidifies trust. My father left his legacy in s

orked for him long enough to

r judgment in the ai

s. A contract wife. A

. It wasn't noble.

the shower. Below, the city sprawled in gold and silver, the rain softening the ligh

stared into the distance, trying not to think a

ver, and

man who had pl

Xavier L

relationships. Rumors of broken engagements, hostile takeovers, lawsui

lieved it ful

eir vows in front of the private registrar. No

tung more th

d. But she hadn't

She grabbed it,

m

to answer.

was soft but laced with concern. "Y

Yeah. Everything went fine. I moved i

fancy or like a weir

y weird rich-people fancy. There's a piano in th

ed lightly. The sound pu

u feeling?"

ds are helping, I think. I had

squeezed. "Th

"You looked like a princess.

sting in hers. "That

" Emma asked suddenly, her voice sma

just for a year. And it's going to

for a moment.

e you

nd Leah turned

one

survive

ha

w regret, fear, loneliness she wouldn't mak

ing into the thick carpet. Everything about the place was designed to impress sleek s

y along the edge of the marble vanity, then the smooth curve o

envelope sitting on t

cont

A year of her life tr

ough the pages again, rereading

tic invo

e with his bus

s assets after

arriage built on bou

noticed before, a clause tucked

nitiated by mutual consent, will n

nked, re

omach

werful, emotionally unavailable might blur lines. For some women, maybe. Bu

ract accounted for such a pos

care, as if they might catc

nd climbed into bed, pulling the si

vier's sharp eyes, the emptiness of the

he altar again, pen in hand, heart in her thro

ract. Don't expe

ds haun

the silken sheets, the fabric too smooth, too foreign. Her old bed had been lumpy, the springs worn

d 3 a.m., she g

r-cabinet light. The soft glow lit the marble countertops like moonligh

man marries

ly what kind o

'd had. Barely five minutes, and yet she could still hear the cold clar

flicker of doubt. She might as well have

dn't get marr

were hidin

ded from the

udding. Who would visit her

y to the door and c

y ha

d saw a black gift box on

rought it inside

d a pair of crystal-heeled shoes, delicate a

ned it

a charity gala tomorrow ni

X

o explanation.

curled aro

performances. The parties. The

ning, elegant, and clearly chosen with pr

s con

ld dress a mannequin. Perfectly

ed to the empty room, "You're not the

uld be

er silent accessory to his cold empir

ts go b

enthouse, untouched whiskey in hand, watching the rain streak down the glass like

ne of numbers, deals, and deadl

h C

Lu,

softly at t

ersions with love and flowers and devotion. His father had taught him better

ye

te fit the cold, transactional nature of their agreemen

't tried to seduce, manipulate, or win favor. She'd just... endured. Like

iskey, the burn doin

couldn't answer. And Leah Ch

dark room to his desk

dent. Freelance sketch work. Caregiver to a chronically ill sister. No scandals.

ad was he

hy she s

ted that,

ng integrity, loyalty, even their names for profit.

for

lo

s. People who loved th

no p

pulled out his phone, ty

ht at the gala. And make sure

.

screen for a mo

cre

y he cared if she

houl

as a c

. No att

t as he stood in the silen

f him knew he had brought a s

don't sig