repare, involving a series of negotiations, lawyers' work, and complex contract discu

o room to

in his. His hold was firm and warm,

he driver opened the door. Julian settle

river. The car glided smoo

ing felt alien, unrecognizable. Her world had tilted off its axis, spinning far too fast. Only hours ago, she'd la

f the driv

s a dream. Julian took the paper from her, his fingers brushing hers. He studied it briefly, then a slow

tly, slipped it into an envel

afe, Mrs.

p jolt through her. She tightened her grip on the

time to f

p, calculating strategist. She pulled out her phone with crisp, precise movements. Ju

her mothe

h urgency. "Audrey? Did you meet him? How did it

as you wanted." Audrey cut her off, her ton

other end. For ten full seconds,

hispered, stunned.

ther's trust funds and the Rosewood Manor deed. Have all doc

flared to life. "Your stepfather Mark has objec

hange my mind. If I fail to secure ties with the Sinclair family, you and y

rasp of the Sinclair family's power. But Laura's ragg

harp with Laura

ipped with resentme

ion." Audrey hung up and blocked Ash

knees. Yet beneath the fatigue burned a fierce, exhilarating triump

watched the entire exchange in silence. Now he pushed o

ress

ng through the empty hall.

answered at once, his tone

ough the speaker. Audrey caught fra

hort, then added coolly, "For the r

d outrage, then rolled hi

nvelope, slid out the certificate, and sn

and unyielding. "You were saying?" He did not

, plunging the ha

sed on hers. They were strangers bound by paper, yet in that moment, they share

into the envelope and handed it to

evening for both of

resence anchoring her chaotic emotions. The night air was cool

door. Julian paused,

ped to a low murmur. "Where to? Hom

d crossroads. She was married. She had a hus

s just a fake marr