..

words catching her c

louded her

d that his request would

vorced, how could she possibly measure up to Bryan, th

e turn cold. "You have one day to decide. Marry me, or we

rs ago, he'd stepped back out of respect for he

d come of t

rying her brilliance to play the role of a housekee

le to intervene, as she bent herself

en secretly backed more than one

ves were

husband was equal

n't even mind her marrying someo

and more than once, Bryan found himself on the verge of confronting Averie, des

, word reached him that Ave

around Averie like a th

the city drifted by, she couldn't

her to mar

dhood, but now that it was about to be rea

convinced herself she wasn't worthy and poured all her feelings into Jorge,

sudden shift in the air snapped her back t

in front of hers, leaving al

heeks, the closeness send

ir lips seemed on

ly pulled away. "B

bout to

d between them and, with a gentle motion,

red in his eyes, though his

u honestly think I was abo

shook her hea

ully about what I sa

in a daze when sh

before someone started pounding at her door,

Open th

istaking Mia's

tracked her down; she wanted nothing

nly grew louder with

elderly neighbor upstairs was shouting complaints. W

envelope into Averie's hands,

s. Good thing he has finally realized who really deserves him. My sister's so kind; she doesn't blame you for any of it. In fact, she even wants me t

at it was almost as if she were th

those two have each other for the rest of their mise

or a moment. She had thought Averie would become furious,

itch! Who do you think you are to talk about my sister and her future husband like th

top. Her family was whe

wrist, her grip unyielding, and deliv

your

ished, still s

rents de

of slaps, her fury blazing as s

Mia's cheeks burne

er, tossing the invi