was thick with the stunned silence of the other men. I could feel their collective stare on my back, a mixture of shock and disapproval at my i

t imperceptible flick of h

tone that commanded instant obedience. "We're done f

ut of the room, their eyes carefully averted from me, as if I were a landmine they were afraid to set off. The young assistant from the outer office hovere

ere

onger public and judgmental, but private and intensely fo

randmother was a remarkable woman. Cunning. And she had excellent taste

chell." I sank into the supple leather of the chair. It was ridiculously comfortable, a stark contrast to the turmoil churning i

e of calm authority. "Tell me everything, C

e nerves,' the constant gaslighting, the way my family and fiancé treated me like a liability. I told him about I

y. His face remained an unreadable mask of stone, but his attention was absolute. He watched me with that same calculating intens

rembling from the emotional exertion. The silen

ue. "Mark Davenport's father, Robert, runs Davenport Holdings. They

napped up

rne Industries the most powerful entity in this city. And the key to their leverage is a block of shares in

until my thirtieth birthday or my marriage. This wasn't just about controlling me; it was about controlling my money.

I whispered, the real

med, his voice flat and hard. "A

ing in on his prey. "You came here for an escape hatch. I'm going to offer you a wea

at him, s

s power. With it, you will have my protection. No one will dare touch you. I will give you the resources to not only disappear fro

as a seductive poison, a

ill become Mrs. Thorne. As my wife, your shares, your inheritance, will be tied to my

was insane. I would be trading one cage for another, shackling myself

k? Crawl back to Mark and my mother,

ve

scape, but to fight back. My grandmother's note echoed in my mind. *For when you're r

thed, the word

eyebrow. "Jus

my voice gaining strength. "They've a

It transformed his face, making him look d

ah, get my personal legal team and a city

brisk, professional tones. It was ironclad. I would be entitled to his protection and generous living expenses, but his fortune, Thorne Industries, was his and his alone. My

next to his bold, confident one. The city registrar, a small, flustered ma

hours after fleeing my own w

This is yours. The number is untraceable. Your old life is over," h

down my spine. I was Clara Thorne. The

the screen, and the predatory smile I had seen earlier returned, s

nd powerful. "It seems your former fiancé has just released a statement to the press. Th

e, extending his hand. His touch was c

dangerous light. He offered me his arm, a gesture of old-world forma

d, my heart beginning to pou

tion into a birthday party for Isabelle's son, have they

he private elevator down to the underground garage, the silence crackling with unspok

was a maelstrom of terror and exhilaration. This was happening too fast. I was in a flimsy robe, with bare f

e it rested on his arm. "Stay close to me," he commanded sof

orman's eyes widened as he recognized the

ovements deliberate and possessive. He ignored the gasps of the h

d walking. With every step, my terror receded, replaced by a

usic and laughter drifted out. Julian paused, looke

doors sw

towards us. And there, in the center of the room, under a garish banner that read 'Happy 5th Birthday L