is body caging her in until her gaze landed he

struggle, forcing her voice into a fragile, plead

ht through her. "Not

h herself, then gave a small, tense nod-t

her with no path ex

le nod, Henry eased back, g

d casually used the towel she had fetched to rake the dampness from his hair. The way he set

drifted unwillingly to their fi

ompany, the Smith Group, prepared to dip its toes into the aviat

ue aviation uniform, the crisp fabric hin

quiet severity completely unlike the bare-chested, d

o offering him a few lucrative leads, yet he thought little

and, instead, drifted toward Irene just before the event wrapp

otion had always been so painfully self-effacing that Caiden viewed

ser to Henry, amused r

ith disappointment, as if he couldn't understan

d, Henry revealed the truth behind his approach-their mothers had been chil

years and had urged him to marry Irene quickly

ornly to her feelings for Caiden and

he could only recognize a gullibl

e a sharp knock echoed thr

e, carrying a neatly folded set of Hen

just another courier, but the forma

iberate pace and casually fl

ers brushing over the cover just long enou

nry's wife after they got married and keep Abby, still frag

promised her a monthly compens

eath hitch, her eyebrows l

much she knew-but offering such a steep month

doing this to reclaim the dignity Cai

money, nor did she want Henry sinking into de

esolve. "I'm fine with everything else, but you don't need to pay m

ed the air between them. His brows dipped,

as he... like Caiden? Would he also demand she stay home, tr

ather her thoughts. "The money you earn belongs to

sed breath slipping through her chest-men

f warmth. "Once we're married, co

refuse again, his voice dipped even lower. "You'll need money. It's tough to g

own at her plain outfit, a cro

up her mind. She would take the money-for now-and

ressed her to finish the marriage application fo

page, her fingers trembling

ed himself to his feet, and she walked

queried, a note of clear displea

ed. She then added in a small voice, "I sti

at Henry's brow. "You have

e replied softly,

look before striding out of the apa

a second. By the next morning, she was already sorting a

er frantic work, t

lf with brisk confidence as Kallie Todd-Henry's secr

coat, Irene found herself quietly wondering if ai

it could form, so she mustered a small,

blatant disapproval. "Miss Burton, your ex really didn't spend

steered her toward the door. "Come on, let's get you some proper things.

extravagant, but they wer

junk" because Henry would supposedly sn

salary stretch far enough f

arefully curated image? Doubt flickered

stepping into a gleaming mall entrance. Inside, a sudden jolt shot through her-just ahead stood two cl