His Wife, By Contract

e as if the heavens themselves hesitated to fully mourn or rejoice. Inside the drawin

ld have been a lie

t. Compromised

r hair was coiled into soft waves that framed her face like art, her mak

. "Here are the final vows and the legal doc

very week? Marry off strangers like

e. "You're not the first. But y

a brow. "Ho

and added quietly, "For what it's

n. "I don't need to survive him. I

-

chids and crystal light. No music, no guests-just a notary, two bodyguards posing a

hands in his pockets,

tight in her grip. When their eyes met, something fli

she whispered whe

ontract

he vows, reciting them in monotone. Adria

d

, her voice caught, but

..

oth names inked beside one another

her and offered h

on his elbow. It was

rmance begin,"

-

olfe Industries in honor of Elliott Wolfe's recovery-though, in tru

shimmered with chandeliers and couture gown

red under his breath

lder gown now, her second transformation of the week. Her arm was looped through Adria

e," he said, the word

s started

e a littl

's she

ty, but so.

ely not

ng fire in her chest. She'd faced eviction notic

oom just to breathe. The heels pinched, the dress

into the hallway, she

ound. Miranda will

Adrian moves-business deals, re

hem-two women in diamonds and dis

etending to smile.

ould slice glass. "Thanks. You'll be

. She walked away befo

-

signed hotel suite, hugging herself against the cold. Th

er, a glass of

d you,"

hey'd h

lyze. Judge. You're not

pick me? Why not someo

't want someone

. "What doe

e. Or worse, they want to fix me. I needed someone with nothing

sted. "Is that

took a sip

just some pathetic broke girl who s

signed a contract to save he

still. "H

my re

right to dig

o let some stranger into my life wi

. "You know numbers

d to her. "T

ierce. "Careful. You migh

tood in the silence bet

pped back. "Goo

"You keep saying that lik