Owen

y arms almost go sl

e laced with a dark amusement. "Want me to put

riveway? Public humiliation? The thought of their faces, the lies, the pity... No. Tearing them

the steps, ignoring Cayden's anxious shouts from behind.

slams shut, cutting o

gs like jelly, and barely manage to catch

own my face. I hastily wipe the

loosens his tie as he walks deeper into the vast, silent

and dark pants. He's lounging on a massive white sofa, hi

g smile plays on his lips. "Since you're

p. I remember their conspiracy outsid

" I say, my voice cold. "No amount

n his eyes. "We're not talking about the manor. Not for now." His exp

e and your best friend have been

ds of a video, and tosses it onto the cof

ected from my body. I was prepared for this

Cayden arriving right after I leave for work in the morning. They show him kissing Vivian, a desperate, hungry kiss

ee years, Cayden had been so restrained with me, a per

through me. My whole

bear to watch me break. "Are

calm, so transactional, after showing me

ttles in. This is my new reality. "Other than the manor," I say

or, ready to walk out into t

mistake," his voice says fr

gust cuts through my shock. "You want to take everything, don't you?" I accuse

erated. "No demolition. If you agree, I swear

er. A wife. A suitable one. We'll have a wedding, a real one in

absurd, it catches me complete

holding mine. "And you hate me. So I don't

expression, it's all a performa

phone buzzes. A me

some things at my place. I'l

get rid of me. The last of my stre

trembling. Sorry, I don't remember. It'

mposure restored, my hea

. "But I want a

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