A ring for a lie

hadn't sl

alace, still wearing the oversized T-shirt he'd given her. It smel

t passed made his proposition

ry

head like a war

emands. Declarations. And she knew him well enough, after mont

fe. He wanted

in r

. Comfor

hadn't ha

7:53 a.m. The twenty-four hour

hat probably cost more than her student loans. He sipped black coffee, scroll

e edge of the roo

hell," he said,

rning to

ulder. "Coffee's on the

let her hands shake as she pou

el

ip. "You don't wa

is m

slowly. "I

t for a beat. No s

I'll have the contract dr

she asked. "J

u prefer? A ri

s. "A little human

It's about logistics. Legalities. You needed a solution. I

her arms. "S

nd for a second, his eye

make thi

ian's town car, staring out the tin

g kidnapped by a luxu

beside her, d

ntire top floor was owned by Julian's private legal team. Ava had only seen it once, when s

l, bald, and terrifyingly precise-pla

l separation or divorce for twelve months. Discretion is paramount. Ms. Monroe wil

the pages. "Do I get

signing," Danner replied, "but Mr

rse he

erything in that cont

what happens if I

ything ends. You walk away with

is wasn't pretend. It was a trap, gilded

ked up

is?" she asked softly

didn't look like

he s

happened the

ust a courthouse, a judge in a bad t

trol like armor. He didn't flinch. He didn't hesi

His fingers didn't tremble when

thing and noth

to the penthou

s of scotch and hand

y on the left. "The room's furnished. Closet is em

r hand. Simple. Silver. Like

esn't fe

is

ed in her chest. "Th

didn't

sheets smelled like lavender and wealth. Everything in the apartment was be

copy of The

ipped through the pages

st the current, borne back

frow

el, Julian Blackwell read some

closed her eyes, the con

fall

ere easier to w

nd Julian already dressed, phone to

he turned to her. "We

ve

will be there. You'll

isted. "You me

off. "Smile. Laugh at my jokes

," she muttered

sed. "

thi

wallet and handed her a

gdale's at noon. You'll need a dress, shoe

ard. "God forbid I

ugh for her to smell his col

now," he said quietly

nded, but she d

good at prete

ut it didn't

retending my