sterile air of his office, a preposterous, impossible t

ned? And that sister was Julian Thorne's mother? It

aid the word with such a strange, guttural intensity. This man, this corporate pr

the locket at my throat. It felt warm against my cold skin, a famil

for argument. "I protect what is mine. And you, Clara

e of his personal history to be acquired, just like my father's company. I had escaped

o this is my choice? Ruin with Mar

urity. Your father will be cared for, his debts settled quietly. Without me, you get nothing. Mark wi

It was thick, bound in a leather folder. A

alistic language making my stomach churn. It was a

right. I had no money, no allies, no power. Mark had taken everything, and Julian Thorne owned the ashes. Fighting w

ace when he realized he had been outmaneuvered by a power far greater than himself was a

s heavy and cold, made of polished silver. The ink was as b

said, my voice s

-surprise? respect?-cr

be told it's a strategic marriage to save the company.

n said withou

it." I needed to be more than a passive bride, a silent partner

is blue eyes searching my face. "Very

ped the pen. The scratch of the nib on the thick, expensive paper was the only sound in the room. I si

as complete. He pressed a button on his intercom. "Anna, have my car brought around. And arrange f

e?" I asked,

the most obvious thing in the world. "A married couple should

as already moving on to the next item on his

minimalist austerity of his office was replaced here with a cold, calculated luxury. White marble floors, vast expanses of gl

ew, of leather and polish and glass cleaner, with n

ive walk-in closet, and a bathroom that was larger than my old apartment's living room. My clothes, hastily packed

ets a crisp, cool Egyptian cotton that felt alien against my s

er cheerful face popped up on the screen. I pressed the answe

heard you ran out of the party. W

ust made with Julian Thorne. But the words wouldn't come. How could I explain this? It sounded lik

sting like ash in my mouth. "It wasn't ri

.. weird," she said, her

that I didn't feel. "I'm staying at a... a friend's place fo

ly alone now. Isolated in this beautiful, sterile prison, bound to a man who was a complete stranger. A stranger who was now my cousin. And