was as if Chloe had pulled the pin on a gr

from her throat. "Are you insane? Do you have any idea what

snapped, his fist hitting

e. "Do you understand what you

the storm of their shock. "The marriage contract is a Townsend respo

e-speak, cloaked in the language of famil

ickly masked by a show of pity. "Oh, Chloe, you don't have to d

ed in, her face etched with worry.

y. "What do you really want?" he demanded, his v

conviction. "I want to be formally recognized as a daughter of this family. Fulfilling this contract, taking on

o their sense of propriety, of duty, of

eck. She couldn't possibly go through with the wedding. But breaking the contract would be a disaste

a lifeline. A perfect

e, streamed down her face. "Daddy," she sobbed, clutching his arm. "I can't... I can't do it. I'm

s. She was the tragic victi

. "Very well. I will speak with the Sinclairs. But you mus

tand," Ch

looked at Chloe, a genuine, grateful smile touching her lips for the first time.

ll thought she was the one making a sacrifice. They had

dvantage. "I have

s turne

the official story is that I was raised in quiet seclusion, under the family's pro

rowned.

t wish for his memory to be disturbed by public speculation. Furthermore," she added, her voice tu

It was a subtle jab at Juliet's own pa

t fli

mysterious past was far better than a daughter whose biologi

d," he

his sister of his, this girl from the countryside, was far

the phone to call Azura Sinclair,

king her giddy. "Thank you, Chloe," she sa

ack. "You're w

choed. In this transaction, there w