The Temporary Bride forever love

obably cost more than rent in Queens-and the cup just sat there, untouched, getting cold. Manhattan's doing its twinkle thing outside the window, a

ltimatum.

again, practically grind

the controlling shares of VossTech will not be transferred un

nancial extortion. Classic Grandpa Voss. Velvet-wrappe

when he still thought love was a real thing, not just tabloid fodder.

tossing the letter onto his

ap. Running a tech empire wasn'

alled the only person who c

t M

ent, tablet ready, not a hair out of place. Unflappable.

u r

ed a

estly, the woman could

?" she d

pora

something on her tablet, zer

" Damian snapped. "Desperate, convincing, a

"You're gonna ruin so

not asking for lov

Days

ow, because both hands were full-sketchpads in one,

sly should

ncomfortable hush. She half-expected security to toss h

onist said, not even gla

aten since... Yesterday? Maybe the day before. Art gigs were dry, her bank ac

racle. Or at le

checked for icicles. Not temperature. Just... vibe.

in pockets, staring out like he

tossed at her, stil

he blurted, brain-to-mou

, slow an

hing weird crackled.

tired, stubborn as hell. Threadbare coat, scu

ob," she said, voice wobbly but n

ver, all business. "You're

ed. "What

wif

'm sorry, you w

get married on paper, play house for a year.

couldn't help it.

en flinch. "

silent. Like,

d back a st

n, you're completely unconnected, and you're broke. That

bonkers. But... a

her arms.

e y

after

k. No s

spot the catch. His face was a

ed. "Health

iled. Almost. "Fine

reath. Whatever. S

grinning like she was at

s. You just hired