aring at the manila folder on the counter. "Explain wha

folder open. Inside was a thick, meticulously drafte

in a flat, clinical tone. "It is the most efficien

the bar's music thumped against the walls, and for a second,

nt. "Clause three. I require a legal spouse to satisfy a restrictiv

t. Her eyes scanned the bizarre legal jargon. She stopped a

turned. "W

tions of your physical resilience and stress tolerance, you are a highly suitable

echoed in her head. A chaotic mix of hysterical amusement and

mahogany counter. The loud smack made t

ps like a lab experiment?" Adaline

"Treating marriage as a pragmatic business transactio

close to his. "You are a delusional, socially i

the financial compensation section at the bottom of page fou

wipe out Aunt Beatrice's debt and cover Angus's experimental treatments for years. For a split second

daline stated loudly, her voice echoing over the music

ill. "Your emotional response is highly illogical given

drained from her face. Yo

wisting into genuine alarm. He knew exactly where to press to break her. She grabbed the heavy manila folder and shoved it aggressive

even more rigid. He looked at her furious face, realizing his car

ise, sharp movements. He pulled a sleek, matte-black b

. He turned around and walked out of the bar, his b

ithout even glancing at the title printed on it, she

ng breaths to calm her racing heart. She forced herself to fin

he quiet, freezing night streets, her feet carrying he

e front door instantly. Adaline trudged up

zed fuzzy pajamas. Brenna took one look at Adaline's pale

couch. She buried her face in a throw pillow and l

en, grabbed a bottle of cheap Trader Joe's wine, and poure

and sat cross-legged on the floor

ne. The cheap alcohol burned the back of her thro

the absolute worst forty-eight hours of her entire e