His Placeholder Bride, My Bitter Revenge

Trevin

arling. We can-" Grant' s voice was calm, controlled, but I saw the flicker of surp

t. There never was." The words, though quiet, carried the weight of abs

enix Development," hit multiple independent news outlets simultaneously. The article detailed questionable land acquis

questing my presence at an "informal discussion" regarding my recent article. The words "friendly com

nt a

r was thick with the scent of old money and unspoken threats. And there she was. Ivory Church.

ding smile playing on her lips. "A. Trevino, I presu

Her grip was surprisingly firm, cold as ice. "Ms. Church," I acknow

can handle this discussion just as well. Perhaps even better." Her eyes raked over me, a slow, deliberate assessment. "Tell me, Ms. Trevi

livered with such casual cruelty, twisted in my gut. "My motives are irrelev

ly pity you, Avery. Chasing after a man like Grant, throwing yourself at him despite his obvious af

me, you know. Begged me to come back. He always came back." Her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. "He told

resolve." How they were precisely what drew him to me. Now, the chilling truth was laid bare: I was simply a convenient reflection, a pale echo o

e met hers, cool and steady. "Perhaps I lack the... dignity to understand why you're so invested in another

es narrowed, then, just as quickly, she laughed again. A brittle, humorless sound.

tton. A section of the wall silently slid open, revealing an

th his upbringing." A familiar older male voice, from the Sutton Holdings board, c

and measured. "The wedding

ticism. "This... Avery. She's not exactly what the family envi

. She's intelligent, resourceful. She's capable of understanding the nuances of our busin

t was a public execution of my last vestiges of hope, a calculated demolition of my worth. My entire b

was crushed under the weight of his calculated words. "Suitable." "Agreeable." "Capable."

my legs giving out. I

burst through the doors of the private room, then through the main entrance of the club, gasping for breath, the cool night air doing

ldings just released an official statement! They're calling your report 'maliciously fabricated,' 'unsubstantiated claims,' and 'j