open the fold

irmly. Lucien Blackwood had already turned back to the window, his attention apparently returned to the city below

said finally. "The leas

around. "Explanatio

ts invite

witched-not quite a smi

her more than h

e folder closer a

ite. Precise. No dramatic he

t f

ge Agr

caught desp

guage flowed in neat, merciless paragraphs. Terms. Obligations. Durat

sane," she

aning against the desk, a

ot the sa

lawyers,

wed and ke

ng that startled her more than she cared to admit. Instead, the document focused

est ti

to own me,

ect what I'm re

one of you

me my responsibility the moment yo

er shut. "We didn't cros

e fell

k it immediately. When he did

about punishment,"

at is it

tain

led between t

d brittle. "You talk abou

calmly. "Just not i

n't get to decide my life b

"You don't get to p

athe. The city stretched endlessly outs

ounts were flagged," Arie

N

u can f

es

y of his answ

I don'

hesitate. "The

pped. "You let

interf

the same

rrected. "I

d into fists. "Yo

the only path that

y and fear tangling in

Lucien said. "

clause tightened the invisible net around her. She was expected to live in

said bitterly. "

ive," he

. "And when I st

eld hers. "Then

sn't re

ng?" sh

e replied. "W

she echoe

es

and pressed her palms agains

esit

or a s

it took for h

father," sh

shuttered. "I

ould happen when your co

equences wer

ok. "And you

about o

head. "You des

more than I

broken. "You say t

e if I hadn't intervened when I did, your family wouldn't be

ed. "What doe

ention on you was

lt suddenl

meone else did th

you were c

slightly. She gripp

ing you fi

e said. "Publicly. Legally. Permanen

at scar

eters

briefly, fighting

n who ruined me," she said, "or

es

ty hurt m

ounded at

aightened.

mposed, carrying a tablet. "Mr. Bl

d. "Give us

at Ariella, unre

at Lucien. "They'r

n't wast

always goin

es

You never intended t

N

uddenly exhausted. The weight of the moment

said quietly. "

ucien replied.

part of

es

e pen resting be

nd tre

after I sign

sely. "You move into B

ni

apped up. "

d security

dn't sa

n't ne

d around the pen. "Y

nt for v

t a var

gaze steadily

vered over

's anger, the endless calls she couldn't answer. The fear that

mean I forgive

just enough to be dangerous.

t mean I t

require

n't mean I b

hers. "Legal

touched

hakily, each letter feelin

she dropped the pen

ontract, scanning it q

s do

er legs unsteady

r n

e door, anger and gr

iel

stop

uieter now. "You sho

ooked

d your family," he said. "Bu

tomac

or who?"

s gaze

p until they take something f

caught. "An

dn't

door and gestured towar

od," he said softly

her ears as she step

since the call at 9:47

contract was

ing of something