ogy. The words felt like poison on m

, my face a mask of practiced remorse, and pub

picture of wronged innocence. Jaydan stood beside me, his

lm. The worst had happened. The illusion wa

of the penthouse and went to see a divorce attorney, a man n

told him everything, my voice low and stea

fingers hiding his expression. When I fi

ly said, his voice gentle

t showed a legal document. "This is

nup," I c

clause buried deep in the fine print.

asked, a knot of dread

e flat. "This document, which you signed ten years ago, established not a marriage,

to swim before my eyes. "No. That's impossible. W

state. What you signed was this. A contract. One that gave Jaydan control over certain shared asset

financial stuff, darling," he'd said, kissing my forehead. "For our future. So we can build our empire together." I was a param

y throat. My entire adult life. My love, my devot

insley," Marc

oise and color. I walked for hours, aimless, my mind a hollow shell.

t silent on the marble floors. I was heading for my room when I

yself into the shad

I'd always found cold and calculating, was saying. "The She

ce was weary. "Ariana

ulfill your duty to this family and to the Shepherds. The merger of Anderson Tech and Shepherd I

aydan snapped, a rar

little... episode at the hospital last week was a message. She slit her wrist, fo

o give blood," Jaydan said dismissive

ell. You've kept your promise to her. You gave her the marri

ed over me. Ariana's suicide attempt... a scam. A cruel, man

s a placeholder. A "decade of fun" before the real marriage, the real deal. I was a t

t like it was turning to ice. The love I felt for him

, a gasp, esc

in the st

e?" Jaydan

wung open, and Jaydan stood there, his face clouded with annoya

You're home. I didn

behind him, his ey

my mind racing to find a plausible re

with false sympathy. "I know it was difficult, but it was a necessary busi

my arm, and I felt a v

d, my voice ba

ting my reaction. "Ains

endearments, his breath hot on my neck. "I love yo

xpensive cologne, a scent I once associated with

way, harder th

then annoyed. "What

d. He glanced at the screen. The name 'Ar

der murmur. "Hey, you... Yes, the deal is proceeding.

Their real wedding. While I stood right t

t stand to be in the same roo

bedroom, my movements stiff and robotic. I had