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Chapter 9 The Price of Loyalty

Word Count: 1511    |    Released on: 20/06/2025

the panic in her chest would just... evaporate. No luck. Her breathin

ng to outrun a train with cinder bl

p some miracle answer if she held it tight enough. The words from her dad's

hting to get her act together. Didn

re they giving me?" Her voice

can wait till that date you mentioned yesterday." Even the guy sounde

was there to say? Finally, barely

ifted toward the subway because, we

hosts-she just sat there, numb. Her body was there, but

re all pale and wired up, nothing flickered in her eyes. Just this blank, heavy star

l like I'm being ripped

them made her want to scream. Like they were bl

g. Then she finally shuffled out to the hospital garden, clutching

. She'd just use whatever she had left, pay out her dad's employees. What else could she do? Ev

lting over spreadsheets, the universe

sided. Her husband, fresh off a plane and still smelling l

s voice had that no-nonsense rumble, a

d-grade school photo, probably. Of course he'd found it. Narima had practically left it on h

, all sly, and g

he couch like, "Come here,

better reason now," he sa

"Better reason? What, sh

in the back of the file. "Alberth Johnson. Old friend.

his-? The college buddy? The one who

saved for his mom's surgery. Was supposed to be

to, her voice soft. "

es shining a little

"even *more* reason to get this marriage sorted.

posed to be, well, helping her, not screwing her over with an arranged marriage. Bu

walking red flag. None of her carefully vetted options ever measured up-till now, suddenly, she'd f

st spotted Santa. "That's him!" she blurted, practi

yes sparkling, just as Elv

ma chirped, latching onto his arm li

She hadn't acted this way in years. Not since-he did the math-y

e was all side-eye and suspicion. Yesterday sh

grinning. "Don't be a little

floated in from the living

"Great. The tamer returns." Narima, of course, he

talk," his dad said, a

spiciously off. Elvano

what'

ook, your mom and I are arranging

you kidd

ma's grip on his arm was ironclad. He clenched

. Why was it so hard for them to get i

an said, voice hard as nails. "We gave you a chance

bit too loud. "Seriously, what's your deal wi

tion way too many times. "We've been over t

keep saying she's so awful-show me something!" Elvan

at on their kid right now. Not when he was still so hung up on Natasha. Not after what happened back in middle

scared. They were just... waiting. For the right mom

r it," Jonathan muttered. "But you'

ly know her! And pretty sure she'd rather not

are sharp, but her smile? Weirdly subtle. N

ano. Better than y

or a split second, his brain ju

the table, like he was handi

ipped it open-and boo

voice barel

Narima's eyebrow did that thing-smug a

ome here to mess with his

clenched so t

Jonathan said, not budging an inc

the folder shut without even read

these people. Seriously. But

ys get to pick wh

ay no to this? Pack your bags. You're out. You're not my s

contin

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