g, my stepsister Clara was the only one smiling. Her eyes glittered. Satisfaction. A family-only cere

say his vow, he didn't bother trying to show that he felt something. I was

ed the hem of my dress. Wringing the delicate lace until it

Lean. Sharp. The dark chocolate scent of him filled the room. I tried to make myself small. Invisible. But

Cold. His voice a low rumble. "Bl

roat. "You could've refused. Taken V

But the contract stated money. Your stepmother wasn

Ruthless. Wealthy. Everyone fears you. Lettin

harp. Humorless. I flinched. Th

wouldn't exist. Business is business,

sn't business Ryan. It is

And the police didn't

. But something in his eyes-fleeting, buried-made me

veling. "There were other girls. My fat

shadow passed over his feat

tepped closer. The bed

se would marry a man like me. They'd rather die." His li

re the only person among the wealthy hi

as he really dying? Balls of sweat on my face de

me, knowing he could leave me a widow? The

ck. Soft. A tether. "It's a rumor I

d I was holding. Relief. Dread. Tang

sighed beneath him. "What d

mouth quirked up.

oice cracked. "

ion. I bit my lip un

ned. "I'm not goi

a careful distance. His scent enveloped

aped my throat raw. "You're a businessma

ping around us. His express

eld a weight I couldn't understand. "I want a bab

e pounded in my ears. "A baby? You w

rp. Wild. Breaking

ushed mine. Cool. Controlled. I

into a broodmare. And then what? After the di

For a moment, I thought he might lash out. Instead,

His voice dangerously low. "I'm

on clawed through the an

er. Flipped it open. A thick stack of papers. Th

proceed clinically. You'll get pregnant through IVF. After the baby is

swam in front of me.

ough to free you from your family. En

e contract. Everything I wanted-free

voice was t

ened. "I need an heir

nwelcome. "And what about

ally, painfully, human. "You get t

Sharp edges scraping together. I didn't know if I could e

hands, I pick

ed away