I divorced my poor husband. Then learned he was a billionaire

: The Pri

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kfast and destroyed by midnight. It was a city that fed on ambition and rewarded the ruthless. Evan Thorne, sole heir to the

, something

rterly reports, when the feeling had grown too persistent to ignore. Seraphina had said she'd be at the Children's Hospital charity gala-a nig

The scent she wore onl

. What kind of charity ev

ing had only deepened, spreading through his chest like ink in water. An hour later,

floor lasted twenty-three s

tion of Seraphina's private study. His heart kicked against his ribs. He moved down the hallway, his foot

ces floated th

en she was excited about something. The other was male-smooth,

discussing weather rather than conspiracy. "Especially after you get him to drink. Once he's had enough, he won't

Papers.

low. He stood frozen, one hand pressed against the wal

ng around Seraphina at parties for months. Evan had noticed. Had asked about it once. S

ne familiar. A rival who had been circling the Thorn

uspects nothing?"

Evan she loved him. "Evan is so trusting. He'll be so proud of me. Once he

ca

ss that spread through his body like frost. The woman he had planned to marry, the woman h

men with hollow hearts, had watched them trade affection for advanta

e had b

into something hotter, sharper. A rage so

hed the

g of color as her carefully constructed smile crumbled into terror. The man beside her-Marcu

er hand flying to her chest

tween them. The scent of jasmine and rose was thick here, almost su

ms I've arrived just in time to hear your little plan." He shifted his gaze to Marcus Webb, letting the full weight

in smile that didn't reach his eyes.

n's control. He crossed the room in three strides, stopping close enough to see th

Before I decide to show you exa

g odds. Then he straightened his jacket, smoothed his expression, and w

n't over

't bother

o of them-Evan and the woman he had loved, standing in

r terror, she was beautiful. That was the worst part. The beauty that had once see

im with trembling hands. "It's not what you thin

ver my company, and run off with Antoine. You called it your escape." He shook his head, a bitt

ning to streak. "I didn't want to hurt you. I never wanted that. But Antoine... he

but the stranger beneath. She had never loved him. She had loved his money, his name, the life he

ave hurt more. Instead,

ontacts. But be gone within the hour." He paused, letting the weight of his next words settle. "And if I ever hear that you tried to cro

de her think better of it. She grabbed a small bag from her desk, not eve

you, Evan. I

behind her with a soft click that

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ot existed. The lights were low, the music soft, and the bartender knew better than to ask questions. It was he

two lonely rich kids who recognized something familiar in each other's eyes. He was also the o

Evan's face and set down

hiskey. He drank half of it in one swallow, letting

s empire. He described Seraphina's tears, her desperate lies, the way her perfume had lingered in the air like a ghost

e ice in his glass h

w tight. "I told you, Evan. There was somethi

ht..." He trailed off, staring at the amber liquid in his glass. "I thought I had fo

ex said quietly. Then, after a p

scare. If word gets out that I was nearly taken by my own fiancée-" He shook his head. "I need to

said, understan

. "But how do I find someone good, someone with a pure heart, in a cit

a does have a way of bringi

e, the idea crystallized, taking shape with surprising clarity. "What if I pretended to be someone else? Someone poor. Someone with noth

p. "You want to go und

meone who sees me, not my money-I'll tell her the truth. If not..." He shrugged, the gesture more defeate

s face, searching for any sign of madness. But what he found

like that... it won't be easy. You've nev

insulated by wealth that I've forgotten how to see people clearly. This

Then he sighed, reaching for his g

n more serious

lone. I'll help you-set up the identity, handle the logistics, make sure you have a

yes. After the night he'd had, after the betrayal that had shatt

ietly. "I don't know wh

x managed a small smile. "Luckil

iendship and the weight of what lay ahead. Outside, Atheria gleamed a

ying-shedding his skin, his name, his fortune. And s

tation, to smile at landlords who treated him like dirt. He

find Sophia

a story for

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