ia

le and unforgiving. I opened my eyes. I hadn't slept a sing

discarded on the floor like a bloody rag. A wave of profound disgust

ing for a scrap of affection from a man who looked at me like I was a disease. I had twisted myself into a path

m

ting in this toxic marriage, shrinking myself to fit into the suffocating shadow of his contempt. Before I was Jaden Sheppard's unwanted, defective

ne. It held only a rumpled quilt, a silent, mocking rem

ense of calm. My bare feet were silent against

e on festival days merely to keep up appearances. My fingers brushed past th

remony seven years ago, it symbolized the eternal weaving of our souls. I

When the silver thread finally loosened and the bracelet slid from my wrist, I waited for t

placed the silver bracelet inside and snapped the lid shut. The sharp click echoed in

moned Tess, my m

pale face and slightly swollen eyes and ru

voice perfectly even. "In f

n key. I reached out and pressed it firmly into her palm. "Tess, this is th

need you to liquidate all of it. Be quick, and be absolutely discr

n sheer shock. "My la

voice unwavering. "I am go

. Once completed, the two parties were no longer connected, becoming absolute strangers

ace for any sign of hesitation. Finding none, her expr

said, her fingers closing

nknown creeping into her tone. I knew what she was thinking. A lone human female, strippe

l, genuine smile touching my lips for the first

out. My secret business-a highly exclusive, high-end social club called The Gilded Li

han, a parasite completely dependen

sion, took a deep, steadying breath

l follow," she swore, her voice thi

r feet, feeling the first true flic

r to my heavy oak writing desk and unro

rding to the law, it had to be signed by both parties, or submit

t his arrogant pride would never allow a "defective human" to b

about his pride an

o the black ink, and brought it to the bottom o

rokes, I wrote my tru