be the happiest d

angers whispering behind cupped hands. There were no flowers. No music. No promises. Just a single judge, a bore

t, but every pair of eyes in the roo

t's

esn't even look

e the one who shut down that children'

designer? The one whose mom di

t be des

s clawed in

d coat, face pale with shame. She'd begged Elara not to go through

n homeless by the

st emotionally b

te and didn't even apologize. He barely acknowledged her-just stood with

ook at her when

take Joseph Taylor to b

voice cracked. It wasn't

lor, take Elara Monroe

r the first time th

something stuck to t

said, with

was

nger by a man who held her hand like it was a business tr

judge said flatly. "You

r too long might stain his skin. His face was unreada

g on her sister. Lena had her hand over

least tried to. A

done thi

w it w

h wasn't

erk handed them their marriage certificate

ness. Don't g

ced through h

eyes narrowed. "Don

"Good. Keep

jacket and walked out of the courthouse like he

didn't ev

pers foll

even hold

s like she's g

r survive in

ing against the cold tiles, her fingers trembling around the certif

ky wa

tt

her, grabbing he

she said t

ne. I saw the way he looked at you in there. Like

ked. Her c

fe now," sh

"But he didn't marry yo

a wi

never should've let you

b. You don't have insurance. You don't even have the baby's father around. I

He cornered you. That contract

fell bet

ouldn't

own at the ring. It was heavy. Too tight. A

it happen. She closed her eyes, held her s

d away a year

ar in a stra

who looked at her like she didn'