His Unwanted Wife Is A Tech Genius

usic box was

ensington mansion, watching the empty fountain in the garde

up, not with a message, but with a calendar n

Birt

em-bright bubbles of affection from friends back in the

orced it down, forcing a breath. He was probably planning a surprise. He had to be.

. Inside, the leather was cool against her skin. London slid past the window, a blur of familiar gray stone and wet streets

t hand. The platinum felt cold, heavy. A perman

of white stone and dark windows. Mrs. Peterson met her in the grand entryway. Her k

and gave the older woman a brief hug. "Thank you, Mrs. Pe

looked away, busying herself with taking Cali's c

ut," she said,

for any sign of her daughter-a discarded hair ribbon, a small pair of sneakers by the door. But the

e fixed on the cashmere. "He remembers your birthday, Madam. But... Miss Ste

physical thing, a shard of glass sl

thin, barely a wh

," Mrs. Peterson confirmed, finally meetin

wave of dizziness and put a hand out to steady herself aga

er voice laced with concern. "You must be exhauste

words. "No. Thank you. I'm... I'm

bedroom was exactly as she'd left it. Immaculate, impersonal, and cold. There was no sign o

flection in the vanity mirror. A pale, tired woman with shadows un

. Her thumb hovered over Halsey's name. This was

n the silent room, stretching into

s clipped, impatient. Not

to keep her own voice e

he other end. Then, a

her chest, felt like it was dissolving into ice water. She opened her mouth to say

this necklace? Lily says it'

gh and excited. "Yes, Daddy! Aunti

gone. "I'm busy," he said into

for a reply. Th

ence of the dial tone. It was the only sound in the room,

e did

d at the woman in the mirror-pale, tire

ontacts and dial

Please prepare a d

ilence on t

ant my maiden name back. Also-notify the AI project team at Donovan Group. The exclusive licensing agree

th caught in

l and placed the p

mirror-straight in the eyes t

, Cali. You're