Betrayed Heiress, Ruthless Redemption

orrified face of my father-all faded into a distant, buzzing hum. All I could see were his eyes, intense and unblinking. All I

of war. A business proposition forged in the crucible of my public hu

. I was utterly alone, having just detonated my life and my family's reputation. I had burned every bridge, and now, o

He's their biggest rival. This is a power play, nothing more. You'll be t

ous sound. "Thorne! What the hell do you think

ng than Mark's rage. He was waiting for my answer. The entire room was waiting. I could feel the weigh

lready calculating the financial fallout. I saw their sister, Isabella, staring at me with pure ven

ous. He was offering me a weapon, a shield, a chance to not just survive this,

tion was a bitter, intoxicating taste in my mouth. I would not be th

ze, my decision solidifying

in the stunned silence of the ballroom,

, this was an earthquake. I saw Sophie's eyes widen in utter disbelief, her

f something in his eyes-satisfaction. He gave a curt, al

ropping so only I could hear it. "My sec

ainst my cold, trembling one. It wasn't a romantic gesture; it wa

step forward, his fists clenched. "And you," he spa

stage, flanking Julian and me. They moved with an unnerving, silent efficiency. Jul

toward the side of the stage. The crowd parted before us as if we were royalty, or perhaps a pla

looked utterly broken, his face a mask of confusion and

thout thinking of the consequences for him, for our family. But there had been no time. To hesitate would have b

of spilled champagne and panicked whispers. The sensory overload was dizzying. I focused on the feeling o

d we were plunged into the cool, damp night air of a back alley. The sudden quiet was a relief. The alley sme

the small of my back, before sliding in beside me. The door closed with a

ed streets of Veridia. The flashing lights of the hotel, the scene of m

aline was beginning to fade, leaving a profound, bone-deep exhaustion i

my ex-fiancés' mortal enemy. I had just agreed to mar

profile was all sharp angles and shadows. He looked like a predator rest

voice barely a whisper.

is grey eyes seemed to absorb th

rated through the enclosed space of the car, "we go t

romance. This was a transaction. And I had just signed a contract without reading a single l