f-shriek. She scrambled for the paper on the f

her face flushing a blotchy red.

ne, stepped in front of Ursula. He didn't touch her. He just

oat. "This is ridiculous. I'm her fiancé. We have a history. You can'

egal team at Blackburn Industries is bored. They've been looking for someone

ked from the document to Hilliard, the realization dawning on her. This wasn't just a

, verifying my legal standing as next of kin," he said, his gaze sharp and dismissive. "You h

oulder. Julian shouted something about rights, his voice cracking, as he was dragged backward.

The silence that followed w

scraping against the floor. He sat down, crossing one leg over the oth

hammering against her ribs. She stared at him, trying to f

led out a slim tablet. He unlocked it and slid

t speak," he sai

ge license. It was dated three months ago. Her eyes scanned to the bottom.

. He had been dying. He had shoved a stack of documents in front of her-trust amendments,

verything. She h

" he said. "Your grandfather was a desperate man. He leveraged his company, his esta

glared at him, her mouth opening to form words that

swiped the screen. "This is the

ublic image required by the Blackburn board. You will attend functions. You will smile. In e

action. She wa

to see the clauses. Her fingers brushed

ist. His grip was firm, not painful, but absolute. He leaned forward, i

if this silence is real or some trauma response. But from today on, you are Mrs. Bla

o her eyes, search

irl. Do we under

his grip on her wrist. But she looked at the door where Ursula had been

d. Even if the shi

tiffly, s