llie set out with neatly wrapp

harmony-every gesture was polished

gentle smile. "You're both so sweet. No need to stay cooped up with us all afternoon. S

Gracie rose from her seat, smoothing her

the dining room

the quiet. He had appeared beside Gracie without w

out, he had already

after him, her heels clicking s

cing straight through her composure. In an instant, s

sk of gentleness, and unleash his cruelty-his belt striking again and again until her skin

s she instinctively retreated a ste

d distance between them. "Relax," he said evenly. "I'm not going t

ied herself, her fingers curling into a

letely escaped the fear T

her, she studied Brayden's

d between the two families, and again after his devastating car accident, when he was left

er past life, this version of Brayden still carried

he dark shirt clinging to his frame highlighted his broad shoulders. Rolled-up

cie murmured, her eyes

her-if someone like him ever chose viol

document, dropped it onto the surface, and said flatly, "Let's set things stra

there was someone

ached air. "Before this marriage is dissolved, I expect you to honor the terms in the agreement. In public, we'll act the part of a devot

flicker of urgency in he

ut her reacti

ent glinting faintly in his e

gan to read through it carefully. The clauses were concise and impartial, spelling o

er the agreement, pen poised to sign,

owed. "What's wrong

inue my research after we're marri

hed his lips. "Naturally no

nstantly-low, gentle, almost tender. "No need to stress. I'll have someone s

distant tone he used with Gracie, revealing

acie picked up the pen and

k, he noticed her signature already in pla

the desk; she gathered hers and q

linger. He gathered the signed agreement, tucked

noticed the hallway was quiet-Theo

den said, his tone measured. "How are you planni

lite distance between them felt deliberate-he'd been upfront from the

ers relax. For the first time that day, sh

nd suffocating control in her past life, sh

family's hold on her and foc

course, she'd finally be f

s calm but distant. "I'll call

edgment, his expression unreadable,

lite offer to send for a car a

wed when faint voices drifte

marrying out of obligation, but my feelings for you a

nstinct, her breath c

own her spine-she had ne

stood, afraid even

smile as he clasped a delicate necklace around Ellie's ne

ed, her voice light

r noticed the flicker of cruelty tha

at simply made Ellie the perfect pawn in his own play for power. Gracie, meanwhile, lived quietly

delicate necklace at her throat,

ope, convinced that affection could blossom from

ded choice had pulled her deeper into ruin, until the end came-alone, in

d Theo-the man who s

me, she vowed to eclips

me take you home," Theo murmure

into his without hesitation, her

path, the pair d

ie's legs nearly buckled, and she braced a trem

died, she straightened and

with his usual polished grace, waiting a

linting with smug delight, a sly smirk curling her lips

agreement by now. Happiness wasn't somet

thing but a quiet, exhausted relief. This time around,