The Billionaire's Stand-In Wife Is A Genius

ight, the kind that illuminated dust motes dancing in the air but offered no warmth. Johnna woke to the sensation of silk against her skin, th

st the linen, finding

her was empty, but the indentation of his head on the pillow was still visible, a c

t, the heavy rhythm of his breathing against her neck, the way he had whispered her name like a prayer or a curse. It had felt different. Urgent. Almos

unning in the bathro

to the defined muscles of his chest and abdomen, trailing down in slow, mesmerizing paths. He didn't look at t

heavy rhythm against her ribs. She cleared he

adw

l suit trousers, the fabric settling perfectly over his long legs. H

said. His voice was flat, stripped of the gravelly

the side of the bed. She needed him to acknowledge it. Sh

ngth mirror. He adjusted the silver links with unnecessary care, twisting them until they caug

Johnna. We n

le where a leather briefcase sat. He clicked it open, the sound sharp like a guns

agher & Flom-the Dyer Group's external legal

ing while sitting perfectly still. She knew that logo. She knew what it meant. The hope that

he asked, though

y father and the trust administrators have been reviewing the quarterly pr

a repeated. The wo

" Chadwick said. He said it quic

name was a phantom that had haunted every corner of this marriage. The girl from the

k," Johnna

fensive edge. "The family believes-I believe-that it is time we formalized the

buried his face in her hair and held her as if she were the only anchor in a storm. N

she said. "You

said, still not meeting her eyes. "Ansle

steria, but with a terrifying, icy calm. She felt a strange detachment, as

" she

prised by her lack of tears. Perhaps he had prepared for a s

would be best if you were gone befor

is childhood sweetheart to

ut and picked up the blue folder. I

," sh

owned sligh

ack," s

his discomfort. "I have a meeting at

the threshold, his hand on the handle. For a second, his back tensioned, the line of his shoulders

r click

lap. She didn't open it. She didn't need to read the terms to know she had lost. She let out a breath she d