her hesitation evaporated, burned away by the fire of her desp
" she said, her voice devoid of its ea
row, his expression inv
nce it started. "I need to hire someone to act as my boyfri
ock. There was none. He was perfectly still, his attention c
d then, after a few months, we can stage a peaceful breakup." She laid out the terms of her plan, the one she'd just in
ni
ok a step closer, and the space between them seemed to shrink, cha
d, his words precise and devastatingly accurate. "Your mother w
It was a temporary fix, a fl
ystematically dismantling her fragile plan.
she asked, a note of defea
yes dark and serious. T
t we get
stant sirens, the chatter of passersby-it all faded into
Are you
His expression w
"A marriage certificate is legally binding. It's the only thi
ed through her panic. She couldn't argue w
ered, shaking her head. "W
nt of humor. "And we know your brother Leo. It's a be
terical laug
"A marriage of convenience. We set the terms, the duration, and the exit clause. Financially in
nd yet... it was also a key. A key to the cage her mother had built around her. The
any sign that this was a joke. Sh
was the most important quest
m also facing some... family pressure of my own
piece of the puzzle that made the whole insane pic
weight of the decision pressing down on
desperation in her eyes had been
r voice clear and st
most painful, surged through Hunter. He
ncing, we should do it as soon as possible." He paused, t
ted. If she was going to do this, she was going
he turned, heading back toward the coffee
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