d the fold

too loud in t

rface of his desk, on the sharp edges of the glass paperweight near his elbow, on

real," she s

didn't

ontrolled, but there was something tight b

"You're saying I agr

es

ning. I asked questions. I was rushed. I was scared. I was ninet

jaw fle

t change wha

anding. "But it cha

ice suddenly feeling too small, too control

ed, her voice shaking despite her effort to steady it. "You don't get to sho

lly, as if she were a pro

" he said. "I'm ackn

ome. I lived in shelters. I lost my scholarship. I carried th

retched be

o the chair acros

N

Moo

napped. "My n

then he nodded once.

better judgm

"I won't insult you by denying the damage this caus

Lina said

ally mine," Adrian

ick every morning. You didn't choose between rent and groceries. You didn

't change, but something

id. "I didn't. And I

I here?" Li

pretending they don't exis

city. "I built my life on control. Precision. Agreements that

ack to her.

d hard. "What

on tasted

rt of their live

painfully. "You don'

d quietly. "Legal

gally hit l

eatening me

tating

them. You don't know that Ethan hates loud noises. Or that Noah refuses to sleep w

idn't waver. "T

don't get to come into their

o," he said. "I'm

nt a chill

?" she aske

his desk and open

a private agreement. No courts. No publici

ated, then

ional trust funds. Medi

eath c

pped herself. "Thi

instability. From scrutiny. From a system

at's it? You give money an

uietly. "I beco

she whispered. "You

e fell

ake them," Adrian sa

up sharply

ed. "Supervised at first. Gradu

mmered. "And

a legal matter. One that will be far m

calm. Control

e folder, her

ough court," she s

" Adrian replied. "

nd unwelcome. "You don't get

he said. "I'm trying

*

a picked up her c

l asleep first, his small hand curled around the edge of his blanket. Noah fought sleep until

a whispered.

lowed. "A

na said serious

ld her

e agreement Adrian had given her. The pages

hone

rom an unkn

id. I won't force this if we c

osed he

eth

ck with shak

o hurt them. Ever. If you d

ly came

ale: Und

n and leaned back, st

had been

s no goi