The Dying Billionaire's Secret Contract Wife

as celebration. The bubbles in the champagne rose in a frantic, golden rush, mir

e that smelled of expensive lilies and old money. It was her engag

st her hip, hidden ins

A relentless, angry vibratio

Jed's with too much powder on her face-and excused herself. She walked toward

the jazz band faded to a dull thrum. Elsie opened her

T OP

NOT CLICK

RE YOU?

was a link. No context, just a link sent from an

ird trapped in a cage. She knew. Somewhere in the de

pped t

ss on the hotel Wi-Fi. When it finally

go in Central Park. He was tangled in the limbs of a woman with chestnut hair. Elsie recognized the hair. It belo

pped the railing, the way he threw his head back. But it wasn't the sex

rding, propped up on a towel.

dump her?" Sarah's voic

ens next quarter. I need that portfolio. Elsie is... she's fine. She's a boring, safe little girl.

r reflection in th

t chignon. Her dress, a silk ivory slip that cost more

looked like

ispered to the e

here, burning behind her eyelids, but they felt frozen, st

bbing away the invisible grime of the last three years. She dried them on a thic

e podium, holding a microphone, looking handsome and charming and utterly fraudulent.

his voice amplified by the sp

owd ap

erwater. A waiter passed by with a tray of fresh drinks. Elsie reached out and t

arms to embrace her, leaning in for a

ed, sensing the sti

word. She just

e splashed directly into his open eyes, soakin

silent. The jazz ba

ng at his stinging e

didn't shout. She didn't scream. Her v

ceilings. "I've just forwarded a link to everyone in this room. I

ne. The thud was the lou

her heel and

ard Jed shouting her name, his voice cracking with panic, but she didn't look back. She walk

rs swung shut behind her

came in short, jagged gasps. She looked down at her hands; th

ang. It was

the screen.

answ

was furious. "I have investors calling me. You

e said, her voice trembling. "He w

ye and you secure the deal! That merger was going to save this

om her ear. She looked at it a

I've done," she sai

lfish l

a thumb that felt numb

to go. Her apartment was technically in Jed's na

told the driver.

and smelled of acrylic paint and takeo

shoved into her hands. She wasn't crying anymore. She was just staring at

floor with her iPad. "Your dad froze the secondary cards. A

dry laugh. "Of

o dollars in your

student loans," Elsie corrected. "And Mom's h

and suffocating. The rain had started

e," Debbi said hesitantly.

e headline was stark: HUNTER HEIR DIAGNOSED WI

a photo. Ha

ir, sharp jawline, eyes that looked like they could c

family needs a legitimate heir before he passes. The trust fund stipulates h

"Hardin Hunte

aybe less. The doctors say his hear

id, disgusted. "Someone to marry a d

death," Debbi said quietly. "And a monthly

er's house. Enough to pay off her father's debts so he could never hold them over her

myself," Els

dying, El. You wouldn't have to... be with him. Not re

ven years ago. A gala. Her mother had collapsed, her heart giving out

ar, shouted for a medic, held her hand until the ambulance came. He h

in H

e had disappeared into the s

llars in her bank account. She thought about Jed's la

the number?

linked.

he Hunters. Do you

s listed right here for '

. Her fingers hover

the window frames. It felt like a

di

rang onc

e answered. It was deep, smoot

r voice didn't shake this time. "I saw t

ed, a hint of amusement in h

ie said. "I'm availabl

urs, Ms. Watkins," Silas said. "Mr. Hu

is," Elsie

Hunter Tower in Man

be t

ned in her throat. She looked at Debbi

ry a dying billionai

to watch the rain drown the city. "I'm going to walk h

-