outside the marriage bureau, forcing me to

as d

e document, but th

and the beautiful, clear word at the top: Married. The other d

was ac

urmured softly,

tall. He checked his phone, a

ed, then said, "I'll have the keys to my

redibly handsome he was. "I'm not moving in yet. I

lowly, not

d some space to systematically dismantle my old li

ek, matte black business card. There was no company name on it, no job title,

ook the card. "A

y. "Alexander. 'Julian' is a tabloid mo

e was trying to rebrand himself for his trust managers,

Alexa

ed over. He opened the door for me, using his hand

sounded like a command, but h

im through the rear window. He stood like a dark, immovable statue a

adrenaline spik

ne: Co

: Scorch

tagram: Blocked. Opened WhatsApp:

ased Liam Thorne fr

I made

before Beatr

s. "Are you ready to accept Mr. Henderson's invitati

ied," I a

her end of the line. A

What? T

ificate is filed with the city. Re

ho is he? Did you just pick up some broke waiter? I

e rumors of Julian Hayes' bankruptcy were exaggerated. "I expect the dee

otested fiercely. "She's already planning her eng

e. L

harp pang in my chest. For the g

gly low. "The house is in the trust. Transfer the deed, or my

r family lived lavishly, but everyone in their inner circle knew Arthur Mercer's financ

son. "Take the house. But don't expect

. I just want what's min

rged through my veins,

b driver asked, eyeing m

," I said. "The

o the lion's den. I

ped his hat to me. He looked at me with sad, pityi

e sprawling penthouse. It was eerily quiet. Liam h

guest room. I didn't cr

packed my clothes, my architecture books, and my sketchpads.

ther, I cut perfectly in half with

ve him a single thing

le kitchen island and dropped the

bare. I realized I had forgotten to bu

ke marriage," I m

other cab. "The Plaza H

heavily tinted windows pulled up to the building's entrance. Two burly men stepped o

ds. I watched the building fade into

ss. But for the first ti