s of Manhattan, the streetlights flashing ac

ierced the quiet cabin. Eleanore looked down. The screen lit up with Johan's

lexander snatched the phone from her purse. Without breaking eye contact wit

dead phone bac

commanded, his voice leaving no room f

massive stone building looked imposing and cold in the dark. A sharp

raped it over Eleanore's shoulders as she stepped onto the pavement. The coat s

's vast legal team had already paved the way with an emergenc

her heels and the heavy thud of his dress shoes echoed in the cavernous hal

der the pretense of a high-security private arrangement, sat behind a desk. He didn't ask questions about the m

mbled, adjusting his glasses. "F

he wrote her name. Then, she moved to the spouse section. Alexander Briggs. Seeing the t

gestured for them to st

s woman in matrimony," the judge began, his voice a d

the judge's tie, refusing to loo

take this man to be your

The silence stretched for one

e of her face. The sheer weight of his stare forced her to look at hi

owed hard

you, Alexander Briggs, take this wo

ction of a second. "I do." His voic

," the jud

ontract didn't mention rings

et. He pulled out a small, black velvet

g, surrounded by a halo of crushed white diamonds. It caught the hars

was the most beautiful, terr

rapped securely around her trembling ones. He pic

with zero resistance. It

ring size? She pushed the thought away. He was a billionaire.

nce you husband and wife," the judge said, stamping the Marriage

cting him to press a polite, fake kiss

He yanked her flush against his hard chest. His other hand cuppe

up and brought his

possessive. He tasted her deeply, branding her with his heat, letting her feel the absolute physical

ack, her lips were swoll

ly stamped Marriage Certificate. He stared at the re

ng. A cold, misty rain had st

s side, ensuring she was completely shielded from the rain. In doing so

ack into t

ng at Eleanore as the car

" Alexander said, his voice a