ss," Na

am

sat up straight, and hated that her voice shook

pened. "What

out love? Children? A sp

year." He watched her closely now, like a man realizing the stor

"How do you

at the Merrin Library." He said it flatly, like a fact he

rememb

ct I lost." A pause. "T

d flickered in her chest, an

She drew a breath. "Marry

emed to hol

blink. But something in the stillness

ng to me. In a

med eff

his mouth twit

a will announce the buyout and the world will decide I'm the heartbroken girl who lost everything. I

me would giv

ce from them." She looked at her hands. "An

you money witho

t want

e she saw the man beneath the cold: c

ht this throu

ut four

rised, almost a laugh. It transformed his

lic appearances. Living arrangements. My family will in

derst

bout. Scrutinized

most," Naomi said. Her voice steadied, though her e

eyes, and there was something unreadable in them, somethi

itting. "Tell me why I should trust a st

hin, wet hair, rui

rson in this city who ha