ion she was about to make. Each carefully typed word, each legal clause, felt like another nail in the coffin of her pas

the office's pendant lights cast sharp angles across his face, accentuating the quiet menace in his gaze. His elbows res

n who made reque

ut to sign hers

hin line. "So, let me get this straight-you want me to be your wife

lated smirk. "Correct. And let's not pre

people who framed her continued living their perfect, privileged lives. She had dreamed of vengeance in tho

s handing her the opport

wasn't

y. "Why do you wan

by something colder. "Th

row. "So I'm supposed

almost amused. "No, Claire. Trust

said her name-it was a warnin

im before. Powerful. D

ifferent. Colder. More con

e him even m

aned back in her chair, crossi

is smirk returning as if he were s

"if I agree to this, I am not your

is dark gaze. "You think

me for this to wor

of tension pas

rich sound that sent ano

mirk told her she had only won a

tays on paper. No real w

with a slow, knowin

she kept her expressi

if consider

ccepted that unsettled her. Lik

ed, "when this is over, I wal

for a long moment,

slid the contr

and we

t the paper, he

moment that would

nd, with steady fing

ublic

d in an elegant designer gown worth more than everything she had ever owned combined. The silk fabric clung to

y that once felt distant

-to-ceiling windows, adjusted his cuf

His voice was smooth but firm.

ng her arms. "Madl

ark and unreadable. "And y

arked in her chest. "Are y

closer. "Are you al

he tension between th

knock on

ntered with his usual composed demeanour.

odded. "

e schooled her expression into one of perfect devotion. She wrapped her

as fl

! Is it true y

ow did you

your fiancé befor

and I have been together for a while now. We wanted to keep ou

her, his approva

nt she had bee

d Ava a

the crowd as Liam's

ked fu

is arm, her perfectly manicured nails digging int

ing her head. "Surpr

ion a mix of anger and disbelief

ce smooth, unbothered. "That'

er. Claire could practically feel Ava stiffen, could see the calcul

ed at his sides. "Y

almost

g. Ava was alread

as only th

ing into a knowing smile as she whisp

ieve

t just a g

was