izing hour trying to decide if I should wear the dress I reserved for jo

restraint, glanced at the address I showed her

wrap in steel wire all day, b

ssa

f me still whispered a childish fantasy: He just wants to apologize.

boy who loved climbing tree

wealthy conversations to a secluded boo

e was taller than I remembered, broader, and the expensive tailoring of

e, those sharp, commanding features, was utterly impassiv

" he stated,

ventory. "Thank you for coming." I stopped respec

ting from him, a protective

my voice sounding shaky

... a very

t. He just gestured to the plush l

n my lap, suddenly sweaty. I noticed a simple, heavy manila envelope lying on

with unnerving composure. "I'm a man of efficiency. I assume the message conveyed the ur

anted to see me," I said, the bi

most successful man in Seattle need

the corner of his mouth. It wasn't a smile, b

all. This is a transaction." He slid the manila envelope across the p

," he in

ers. The title page, in bold, legal black font, stared up

ng. "What... what is this?" I whispered, staring at t

up his glass. The ice clinked, loud and insulting in

can, what? Satisfy some twisted billionaire ego?" I shoved the papers

fore you make assumptions you can't afford." I sat rig

ats into my inheritance. To gain total control and access to the full, unfettered Conti fortune, I must be legally married for one calen

You fit the narrative he needs to believe. You are the perfec

blood. "And what do I get in this transac

f ten million dollars ($10,000,000 USD) upon the signing of the agreement, transferable immediately. That is enough to pay off yo

ugh every fiber of my being. It wasn't just money; it was Leo's futur

. We will share the Conti Manor residence, but we will maintain separate quarters. Two, no pregnancy. This is strictly a business arrangement. Any deviation

ave your brother. I secure my future. A

ng temptation of the number. Ten million. I could give Leo his life back. "And what abou

the world, Alessandro. That boy is dead. And I genuinel

ned across the table, his composure finally starting to look like an effort. He

is exactly what makes you the perfect candidate." The cruelty of t

e, didn't you?" he continued, his voice soft

r my grandfather's legal requirements. You are a convenience. An easily purchasable asset who comes

k at your brother, whose survival hangs on the thread of your next paycheck. You are at your lowest point. You a

hero to your brother, without having to work three exhausting, degrading jobs. Do

e table, propelled by two years of crushing grief, debt,

zing the potential cost of interference. Alessandro didn't flinch. He slowly raised a hand, touching the

insol

chest heaving. Tears were already stinging my ey

ther to force me into a contract! You are not a man, Alessandro! You are a piece of calculated garbage. I would rather live on the s

echless, his perfect composure fin

n desperation, I still have a soul you can't buy, and a memo

s, and burst out onto the chilly Seattle street. I didn't hail a cab or check my

the city lights. I collapsed into the driver's seat, slamming the door a

emory of him, which the man in the suit had just viciously murdered. But the mo

evastating knowledge that I had walked away from the only thing t

d assigned to the hospital. I stared at the screen, heart s

hoarse with choked sobs. "H

d's nurse said on the other end. "It's Leo. He was rushed in a few minutes ago, we had a sudden

The contract, the pride, the slap, Alessandro's c

est as I pulled into traffic, one thought screaming in