thout filing the pr
. I didn't know much about legal terms, bu
t blink. "It
nexistent. You skipped protocol. There's no
ou shouldn't say that
give me. I wasn't sure whether we
awyers could barge into homes at four in
s, jaw clenched. "Enough
even have her sign a no
the marria
ed. Not the addendum. Not th
ed. "Post-nuptia
t me. The silenc
o trap me," I sai
were already paying you." It
what it so
ore the board finds out. If they think she h
want leverage. I want my money, my
ked at me. "Then s
me to sign something you hid
ide it; I d
u knew I wo
nd; I took that
lanced at it and cursed. "Too
to her. "What do you m
owards him. A news head
arries an unknown woman in
cursed under his breath and
" I said in a low voice.
not invisible anymore, sweet
ian. "You promi
't leak
who
ne has done the damage. Your family's trust is shaky. Do you th
e the board
lause in his will was clear. If this marriage looks
ropped. "We're l
about paperwork. They care about perception. You married a waitress from B
m, heat rising in my
't be," Vane
gnoring Julian's tense p
a hand. "Stop.
"You need to fix this
nce. "Get o
lenched.
d, get
ing across the floor, and s
o that's your idea
his hair. "I didn't thin
d that before marrying som
dislike yo
. That's so
ere a solution. That's what someone
ok quiet
e a storm I invit
still standing i
like he didn't
r. "I'm going to bed. Or whatever wing o
wrist before
fr
ak, and held my wrist like he w
n't have li
lie," he
all the impo
ip loo
lked
g, my phone buz
l media alerts. Missed
d one m
Are you tru
d anoth
he pay you? Go
the bed and buried
invaded my l
I ignored it. The knock ca
e mood, Julian
ulian," cam
up in
air tied back. Red lipstick that didn't quit
spoke in a
nked.
ped inside. "Your h
hat are you doing here?
hospital and said that you were married to J
rry. I was going to tell you. I didn't thi
. "Why didn't you tell me you we
want to
ied since the day w
llowe
The offer. The contract. The wedding. The woma
d without i
and. "I understand why you did
interr
in, his eyes
wasn't too diff
d her clothes. "Thank yo
taying with us now. I h
ed. "Yo
story keeps spreading, they
ween us. "Should I l
d. "No
ed. "Tessa, I need to
move. "Ab
of paper from his pocket
t's
cont
lready si
endum. No traps. No
t me, confused. "W
ng up control," I s
want out, this is your cha
e again. "What are
n't a
ment, I di
nd phone in th
ead the message, and h
. "What
was calm
alled an eme
r w
ooke
ve me as