Heart Of Ice

ned to get out of one engagement, only to be offered a

ace. I dropped my wine glass, immedi

hell was

N

ed imme

r our order, but it was clear neither of us was in the mood for food. Nicho

hy

, and I

hy must there be an excepti

as shr

endless possibilities.

ng him?! Marriage. I was tired of heari

what I'm thinking a

ow where I come from. I'm not a stran

iness transacti

Call me N

as I roll

holas; this is marriage we're talking

ransaction. We can draft a contract and decide on terms to

. What was he getting at? Who meets someone

after my father's mo

only reason why a man like him would want to be

thing but my father's money to attract a man of his

that I have enough o

l, I'll still help you. But note that

cof

nly using me for w

nt about things now. Much of life and relatio

I had imagined. Just one conversation with him

out, wondering. The question came as a surprise, to me and

your heart,

me to mind: Michael Pritchett. That

ll that love doesn't exist for people

the truth. I could lie to myself about it all I wanted,

can get, Maya Smith. And

it and give

nd left the table. I saw him approach

moments later to tell me th

..

I asked Lisa as we drove

y will go out later t

's cheating scandal would be plastered on the face of every local tabloid in Hadron. I had instructe

or register his shock quickly enough. I was det

eway, I saw Michael's car parked there and sighe

sion, feeling the ten

een waiting for you," he

he could say anything else, I spoke with a

t, before that, what's going on? Why are

gaze squarely. "Have

at news are you

the incriminating photos. His face paled as he stam

een caught kissing your supposed stepsister, Sel

ot what it looks like. Maya, please. Those photos a

ps. "There's no need to lie to me. We're done. P

ya, don't do th

ve me? Love doesn't betr

er belongings Michael has here. I don't

ent him the photos as proof while simultane

"I can fix this. We

resolute. "You should also start looking for a

long

! You can't d

ave. It's ov