he cafeteria chair du

tightly around a paper cup of free hot water. The heat seeped into her free

her table. A leather briefcase hit

Owe

entirely devoid of empathy. Adriane'

for the Barnett family," the man sai

thick stack of papers and slid them across the

e on this revised divorce settlemen

elt like it was coated in sand. "If I sign this...

andard trust fund procedures, the capital will be rele

The cup of hot water tipped over, spilling across

th hysteria. "My brother doesn't have thirty days! He

dripping water. His face remained completel

old-plated pen on to

u do not sign, you will not receive th

and walked out to the h

he cold metal of the pen. A viole

't even have the right to sell her own marriage

the chair, buried her face in her ha

over her shaking shoulders. It smelled faintly

ria

ep, warm, and in

rough the gray fog, she knew that voice. Dr

table. A deep frown creased his forehead. "Adriane? I just saw your missed call. I was

th extreme gentleness, he reached out and wrapped hi

, red eyes. A flash of intense

ed?" Deandre

, stuttering mess. She told him about Barry, the failin

hesitate for a

Deandre said firmly. "I

irection, unable to process the words. In a world that had sho

kin and gently wiped th

his luxury watch. He walked back to t

sing his broad shoulders to completely shield her f

rs off the table and slammed

to back the hell o

ered, adjusting his suit jacket

ndre's protective back, Adriane t