Clara. He took in her soaked denim jacket, her ruined makeup, and the slight s

her name. He didn'

birth," Caspian demanded. His voice was smooth

osed to a stranger on the steps of City Hall, and he wanted her birth

ong fingers moved quickly across the screen,

hly unusual astrological criteria demanded by his eccen

ipped it into his suit pocket.

t your p

or a fraction of a second. The reality of what she had

her to follow him with a sharp jerk of his chin and began

n, she bit the inside of her lower lip, forced her legs to move,

building. The air smelled of wet wool, floor wax, and the expe

of vending machines. He reached into the inner pocket of his suit

a standard prenuptial and non-

auses were strict and unforgiving. Absolute privacy required. No financial

: Caspian Sterling. She registered his name for the first time. It sounded

cket and handed it to her. He watched her face closely, his eyes

e pen to the paper and signed her name quickly and decisively on

e surprise crossed his dark eyes, quickly

go,"

d ticket from the red dispenser. They moved to the waiting area

Clara stared at the scuff marks on her wet shoes

tomach. She had skipped breakfast to pick up Leo's cake,

crept up her neck. She squeezed her eyes shut

remained entirely unreadable. He didn't smile. He didn't mock

," a voice called o

. Caspian handed over their IDs and the

Clara's damp jacket and slightly smudged makeup, a clear sign she'd been caught in t

or just the paperwork?" the clerk a

a convincing, intimate register. "Just the paperwork. We are having a small, p

ed, satisfied, and directed them to a small side

r name next to Caspian's. The official stamped their documents wit

doors. They stood on the front steps of City Hall. The rain had fin

sleek, matte black business card. It had no compa

your monthly compensation," Caspian s

ed and walked down the steps, heading toward a

of her damp jacket. She watched the taillights of his car d

ow a marr