The Mortician's Contract Marriage

uil silence of the Hayes family's gated community. Geneva slammed the ca

ting between pathetic apologies and s

was a dead weight, mumbling incoherently. With a grunt of effort, she dragged him up t

rantic light appeared in the foyer. She stared directly into t

. Her eyes widened in horror at the sight of the heir of the house c

? Master Pre

e into the center of the cavernous two-story foyer. The noise had roused them. Catherine a

s. "Preston! Oh my god!" She rushed down the stairs, her face

hind her. "I did nothing but deliver him," she said, her voice dangerously calm. "Your p

wly, his face grim. "Insolence! Is this ho

a's lips. "Family? Mr. Hayes, I think we ha

ce rose in a tearful wail. "After all we've done for you! This is how you repay us? Preston mad

oice sharp as a razor. "I am not your daughter. I was a busi

gagement ring. She pulled it out and, with a flick of her wrist, tossed it onto the floor.

n," she declared

tood the gravity of the situation. "You'll regret this. Don't for

now, Mr. Hayes. I have. My grandfather's will states that the trust is activated u

darker than fear of a scandal. They knew something s

faces a picture of disbelief. The one piece of leverage they thought they had, th

hed over Geneva. For the first time in her

he paused, letting the weight of it settle. "The file is already backed up in three places. If you want Hayes Industries stock

eyes. Fear. Then his face contorted with impoten

l the ugly greed beneath. Her mind was already calculating-the stock price, t

lent foyer, this gilded cage she had called home for more

" she said quietly, "

lked toward the m

s's voice, hoarse with fury, called out

them. "No," she said, withou

osing a chapter of her life. The cool air on her face felt like freedom. But free

oss the screen. She

typed: "Fastest way to

rtner for a new transactio