The Billionaire's Contract Heiress

voice was ice. "You'

marble floor, her heels clicking like a warning. "But when I hear my son has marr

was beautiful-cold, perfect, untouchable. She had Christian's

eanor stopped in front

voice came out stronger than she

n't reach her eyes.

stepped between them

st him and settled into a chair like a queen taking her

t te

ed her hands. "You must be married for one full year befo

ract said thirty days. She looked at C

of the term

he year is up, the inheritance goes to your uncle." Eleanor's eyes flicked to Aria. "I'm simply

ned a co

. "I'm staying for dinner. I want to get

es

y eager to meet the girl who thinks

-

was a n

at in the middle like a referee. And across from Aria sat Richard Knight II

cutting into his steak.

said. "I was studyi

t afford it." Richard smiled. "Yes, I did m

a chari

fee shop. You live in a studio apartment in Queens." Richard laughed. "And now you're

voice was quiet. "I'd

ichard leaned back. "She was a lovely girl, by the way. I always

ria said. "And she's

y. I see what you like

stian set his fork down. "And I'll

earned," R

stian stood. "This dinner is

ut," Eleanor said. "T

rom his pocket. "I bought it last week

s face w

other? If you ever speak to my wife like that again, I'll cut off your acc

-

nd sputtering-Aria sat al

t wa

elf a glass of whiskey. "They'll

e penthouse? J

k a drink. "Money talks.

man was terrifying. Co

efende

re my

not a

He set the glass down and walked to

ce pale. "I don'

ut his phone and showed her a photo

id you g

the bathroom." His eyes we

and to her stomach. "I didn't even think it

e sat beside her. "The qu

do you

ays. But if you're carrying my child, I can't let you leave after thirty day

t do yo

ancy. After the baby is born, if you still want to leave, I'll let you go. You'

tened. "You'd let

u and the baby are safe." His voice cracked, just

isti

He squeezed her hand. "I'm asking because I haven't been able to stop thinking about

sing me. One minute you're cold and cruel. The

up. "Neither do

window and stared

o would do anything to get what he wanted." He turned back. "Then you walked into my café. You spille

u w

ou. I didn't want to manipulate you. I just wanted to be ne

alked toward him. St

fore you saw me. You were standing alone by the fountain. Yo

yes widened.

se woul

it in my study. I've looked at it every day for t

you k

d closer. "Aria Scott. The

t steal

kissed her forehead. "And

-

ntil Christia

him. She walked to the hallway, past her o

d told her n

nd on the knob

new where he kept the key. I

d it. Open

much bigger than a closet. And every inc

e

ia as a teenager. Aria working at the coffee shop. Ari

. Hundreds.

from afar. By someone

It was of her and her father at her sixteenth b

hrough m

stian stood in the do

ing me," she whisp

her. "I've been protecting you from the shadows.

t mo

her hands. "Your real name isn't Aria Scott. I

pau

ho was assigne

ia felt the wor

He stepped closer. "But I couldn't do it. I couldn't kill an innocent child. So I faked your death and let your adoptive fathe

what?" sh

u." He dropped to his kn

he door burst open. Victor C

give me the girl... or I'll