When The Contract Ends

t few days mostly

bbed, a const

me to che

ng Industries, and Chloe, he

ocial media on his ph

Chloe, and Julian Vance at a gallery openi

round Victoria, Chlo

d: "Best family

t a dull confirmation

a placeholder whos

leave hardened

could manage on his own,

erling household c

he sprawling mansion th

as empty, e

s room and st

clothes, some worn books, his old, bat

prized po

' d stashed away a small amount of cash, painstakingly s

uch, but it

Maria, and a few weeks' rent in a

ee

re you

rway, arms crossed, he

frilly pink dress,

hing is organized for the foundation's gala. And Mommy needs

commands like

nodded. "O

no point

ast set of chores.

dusty office, sorting pape

h, handling ano

jor charity event, he was expected

e good suit lai

was le

lashed with what l

ttered acros

the doorway, a smu

ing sorry at all. "Looks li

u shouldn't go. Mommy does

e should have

ble he wouldn' t be attendin

auve, held out

one dripping with false concern. "Victoria asked me to lend you one

it. It was a dark, ex

se. Julian was never this

options if Victori

m mumbled, ta

ers, a little too short in the sleeves. And

ittering ballroom, fe

rew stares. Whis

elic in a white dr

ever, were fa

ced loudly, pointing at him. "You

openly now, some with pity, mo

ia, smirked, a clear look of

his was a setup. A

d react, Chloe s

g his balance at the edge o

l into the cold wate

cket hampered his movem

aming down his face, the laughter

lled him out, drip

hrieked, pointing at him. "They

itated, lookin

y her apparent distress, seeme

to pull at hi

be stripped in f

t through

ater pooling around his feet

ere, her face a mask

r own expensive wrap

this?" she demanded, h

into tears, pointing a t

wore Daddy's suit to mock him!