t the corridor wall, her knees

led her senses, yet all she could focus on was the cri

in her world. A name that n

tightened ar

heavier than it was. He

inform you that Mr. Cole would like to meet with you tomorrow

traightforward." The assistant had added, her lips formi

Cole want with someone li

rose with a

e it back into her f

only a few feet away, yet her le

r out of the trance. She fumbled for her

?" came Aiden's

answer im

ir

able...

e are

he ha

u o

at worked.

other end. Then, his voic

d protest, he'd

**

r, his eyes scanning the corridor until he

proached, the faint smell of a n

like you s

him the business card. He stared at i

is t

e it to me. She said he want

droppe

hesi

e not

unsure whether she wa

en added, his vo

he lion's den because

s, fighting back th

e mounting. Dad's treatment is expensive, a

, cutting through her rising panic.

fer might not

a reason why y

eren't true, but because they echoe

ing back the sting in her eyes.

But desperation makes you vulnerable; dan

g him dangerous? Do you

hesi

id

e said finally, rubbin

ople. Manipulates them. And if he's suddenly o

ng the wall, her mind spiraling. Her eye

ous, unaware of the storm bre

the power

hat c

aled, d

around the bush because she didn't k

ore Aiden crouched beside her, eyes level

wil

I don't trust him. A

, more out of exhaus

e," he added. "D

won

s edges cutting into her palm, Mira wa

al cafeteria and got Mira a

he clasped the warm paper cup

shuffling past muffled conversations between family mem

tting across from her, eyes searching her

hing," she began, her voi

d forward.

t pounded so hard it

han Cole offered to marry me... in exchang

a heartbeat. Then the shock

how it

a's words hitting him l

wh

to marry me," she said, her fingers tremb

r... paying all

as silence between th

ck, shaking his head like

ira, are you even heari

greed. I'm just..

His voice rose, sh

ract with a man you barely know-someone who sees you as

snapped, then lowered her v

tepped closer, her

ime, Aiden. The bills are piling up, and he's getting weak

're just going to sell yourse

her eyes, but she

ve-I know what kind of man Nathan Cole is. Cold. Strategi

rly, dragging a han

ing without a plan. What happens after he gets what he

t. Then she said, "That's

like the word was poison

.. he said if this is what I need t

now. "You always said you'd follow His

swer. Not ideal. Not beautiful. But sometimes obedience doesn't

eyes burning. "You know I would've

. And I'm grateful. But we both know your job at the

res. "You used to be someone who believed love mattered.

rely a whisper. "Th

d sharply. "And t

t desperate. I'm choosing to t

t crazy," Aid

man, what? Runs a billion-dollar company and

"You don't

e fired back, pushing b

absorbing his

ed. "So that's it? You've

lips tr

ather or keeping my sanity... I'll choose him. And I believe

y struggling. "I just don

squeezing his hand. "I know. But ri