My Escape: A Marriage of Convenience

hed over the phone. "Hazel, are you o

e airport a dull roar in the background. "I'm p

f! They say Christian Mccall is a monster. Horribly scarred from a childhood accident, with a

It was a strange, hollow calmness, the kind that c

end of the line. "Did... did

and I a

arby. "He broke up with you? That bastard! I'm going to kill him! After everything

ter anymore, Charley. This is my choice. You deserve to be happy

gency savings, the money I' d been setting aside for a down pa

life..." Her voice

first time, the words felt true. "I want yo

affair at the security gate. She hugge

ing," she whispere

her, pushing her gently toward her

lift into the sky, a silver bird disappearing

first major funding round for Monroe Tech. He' d surprised me with tickets to Italy. We' d stood in this very terminal, and he' d kissed m

little fool

anged marriage had called, coldly informing me that "the bride" needed to be fitted for a dress today. They didn't even us

"Miss Monroe? We have the Versailles suite ready for yo

hand. "Just show me y

ed. "Simplest? But this is for

one you have

k sheath dress. No lace, no beading,

one,"

ll we get your measuremen

r had given me for "emergencies." "Just box it up i

tered. "But, Miss... n

" I said flatly. "The packagi

on the other side of the country. Marrying their heir was like entering witness protection. Adler would never be able to reach me there. The Monroes didn't ca

m our trip to Italy, the one from his first company launch, the one from Christmas last year. I didn't sm

m all in a large cardboard box to be donated. The only thing I kept was the ugly ceramic mug I' d made for him in a pottery

every saved voicemail. I untagged myself from every post, blocked his number, and erased ever

my laptop, a call came thr

were here last week for the charity gala? It seems you lef

ideas... my entire professional life. And, hidd

there to pick

de deals over whiskey and cigars. When I arrived, the main hall was buzzing with a

n in a Chanel dress whispered. "Auctioning off h

s the principle of the thing. He' s putting her on a literal auction block. After she

ough the crowd, my eyes fixed on the m

here

cruel in a dark suit. His expression was impassive, but

akeup perfect, her expression a mixture of fear and defiant pride. She had agreed to this. For money,

r faces a mix of shock a

aid. "He says it's revenge for how

He doesn't want anyone else to have her, so he's 'buying' her himsel

friend of his? The de

is still playing these kinds of sick games with his ex. She' s just a place

wasn't revenge. This was a mating dance. A toxic, destructive ritual b

ng to be mine. H

stood there, watching, a silent, posse