The Contract Wife's Reckoning

stood on

night, even for Manh

around his face, but

oked

ghts. So m

them m

anym

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married to

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tupid, pai

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she was faili

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did

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t

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surfaced,

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e had bee

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d onto th

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of Lia

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favorite dish

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ctive. Lines of code blooming i

e. Candles. Her

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lock

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od gre

looped on his

their huge, si

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anced at the

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hit him l

va

encompassing him, the dinner, their marria

s were

endured it for fam

thing inside

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to know. E

. A short,

re for a stra

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this was

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est tighten, h

ray

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then. Raw

de

ike it was yesterd

unger sis

said. A rare

d gene therapy. A

research division could g

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g Innovations, her family

ptcy l

ed with Ava since t

n. Her fear for Lily.

red a s

ife

ly make sure Lily

artnership. Hayes Corp

her company. S

cond

to mar

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ude would grow in

d see hi

er eyes hard,

im for it, he

her weak. For having

rappi

night, after her word

ch. A

ven know wha

? A ret

away like he

uch me," s

in her voice

pped h

voice hoarse. "Say you love me.

thetic. H

flicker of something

replaced by that

ow," she said, her voice soft, dangerou

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ty was br

It was a deep, se

ject to her.

lly und

her for so

hat fir

whole fantas

sacrifices, would

deceivi

it wa

d kil

arrived a few days

ous encry

deleted

ing made h

ot

ughing.

Charismati

t

. Her colleg

he' d died years ago. A

But Liam knew. He' d r

wasn' t ju

as t

st

treatment. The m

t for Lil

inor condition.

he email claimed

s younge

pula

ortly after

grief, had moved heaven

ction to Marcus

used

urces. His family'

ave Lily. Or even Sterlin

e her dead lo

d it all out.

had played him

as just a c

ike a foo

rifice. His n

e. Built

a tool. A me

who mourned

the last, fragile fou

that finally push

t made the fa