led out a heavy, outdated flip phone with a cracked screen, explaining his smartphone had died during the storm. She took the clunky device, her fingers brushing his, and dialed her be

out the legal nightmares of contract marriages. Alayna s

fax machine. It detailed aggressive asset separation and strict boundar

uses designed to keep him entirely locked out of her finances.

s. He looked at her, his voice perfectly mimicking a simple, confuse

ered, her heart doing a strange flutter,

ing chuckle. He grabbed a

s. He flipped straight to the back page and si

cheap replacement smartphone Cruz had silently left on her nightstand. She wor

to the curb. The engine sputtered loudly befo

placed his massive hand flat against the roof of the cab, protect

dry. The dashboard was wiped completely free of dust. The unex

ll. Alayna stared out the window, her pulse hammering agai

in white dresses and tailored suits, vibrating with nervous energy. Alayna and

ple next to them was arguing loudly about catering. Alayna

ay without a word. Alayna's stomach

aper cup of chamomile tea. He handed it to her, his voi

p. She looked up at his sharp jawline and calm e

er. They walked up to the thick glass partition and

xpensive linen dress, then at Cruz's rough hands. She frowned, leaning clos

t and wrapped her hands around Cruz's thick bicep, pressing her

he paperwork, and told them

o hers, stripping away the noise of the crowded r

around him shifted. A heavy, suffocating aura of absolute power bled into hi

t her ribs. She rushed through her own vows, her

ried and slid the certificate acros

, her muscle

against her forehead. The contact was brief, warm, and entirely res

bbed the certificate and

nlight. Alayna stared at the paper i

inst the frame, a faint smirk playing on his lips

It was the only property her mother had left solely in her name.