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

Cour

-

er tea with methodical precision. The afternoon light caught the highlights in her hair, and for a moment, he found himsel

catching him

ed, shaking his he

chair, studying him with those green-gold eyes. "You do that a lo

p, taking a slow sip. "Or maybe I jus

. Most men I know can't stop talking about themsel

know the

ried past in the late autumn chill. "My mother keeps introducing me to these... prospects. Sons

does she t

uarded, something careful-before she answered. "She thinks you're a phase. A rebelli

will

a crack in the armor she wore so well. "I don't know," she admitted quietly. "I've spent my whole l

was exactly the kind of thing Seraphina might have said-the calculated vulnerability, the appeal to his protectiv

minding himself of that. Just because one woma

ked softly. "Right now, in this m

ter. Not just as someone's beautiful wife or someone's trophy or someone's ticket to social advancement. I want to be seen as... as a person. With thoughts

en despite his caution.

." Sophia's mouth twisted into a bitter smile. "She's been telling me that since I was twelve years

at do y

d of being valued for the wrong things." She met his eyes again, and this time there was steel in her g

more intimate than anything they'd shared in three weeks of courtship-but it f

moment. Then, slowly, she turned her palm upw

omi

-

very day-lunches in quiet cafés, walks through the city's parks, evenings spent talking in bookstores and galleries and anywhere else that didn't require

ld church where she went to think, a rooftop that offered the best view of the city's skyline. These were the places she love

music, his habit of reading philosophy late into the night, his childhood dream of becoming an architect before "life got in the way." Th

unfold with barely

ey met for their weekly check-in at The Gilded Cage. "I

he's... she's not like the others. She doesn't care about money. She doesn'

"She sees Evan Vance, a poor man with nothing to offer. Of c

point. That's exac

plan. But you've got to be careful. Three weeks until the six-month deadline. T

the water stains on his apartment ceiling, wondering how Sophia would react when

ansforming the genuine connection he thought

ietly. "At the end of the six month

she reac

on after all." The words tasted bitter, b

pression unreadable. "And if she reacts we

marry her, Alex. And I'll spend the rest of my

-

less enthusiastic ab

, for her mother to "get to know the man I've been spending all my time with." The venue was an upscale restaurant

anding outside the restaurant, watching the valets park luxury cars

arm through his. "You look nice," she sa

t a thrift store," he replied, kee

squeezed his arm. "Just... try to ignore my mother

already formed her opinion and was simply going through the motions of confirming it. She r

ow nice to se

n extended his hand, and Beatrice took it with the

empty chairs. "Sit. I've already ordered a bot

at

arefully crafted answers with barely concealed skepticism. She made comments about "the importance of stability" and "the realities of life in Atheria" that were clearly ai

n or change the subject. But Evan could see the strain in her shoulders, the way her f

in course arrived, "what exactly are

-" Soph

ce's eyes never left Evan's face. "A man who spends this much time wi

"My intentions are honorable, Beatrice. I care deeply for

xactly? A studio apartment and a lifetime of budget restaurants? Because I have to tell you, Ev

er, p

hisper. "Evan, I understand that you're... fond of my daughter. Who wouldn't be? She's beautiful, intelligent, refi

ly, "I think Sophia is capable of decidin

Beatrice's eyes hardened. "I've spent twenty-five years trying to give her the oppo

lt Sophia tense beside him, felt the weight of her

character mattered more than money. But instead, he found himself thinking about what Beat

's desperate desire to see her daughter succeed where she h

your desire to protect your daughter. But I believe that with time

le. Then she picked up her wine glass and took a long sip. "Tim

they finally parted ways outside the restaurant, So

ng out in a rush. "My mother was completel

and, squeezing gently. "She's trying to

l she's ever done. Dress like this, smile like that, marry someone rich." Her

orcing her to meet his eyes. "You're not a project,

green-gold eyes searching his face. Then, slowl

sweet, tasting of wine and winter air. When s

e," she

art stopp

ke you, Evan. I've never felt this way about anyone." She gripped his hands tightly, her fingers cold against his skin. "Please. Don't make me wa

ver months, to be certain before revealing the truth. But the plan also hadn't accounted for t

o say yes. But I need you to understand something. I don't have money. I don't have prospe

actually worth something. About the way you listen when I talk. About the way I feel when I'm with you." She pressed closer, her body

erns, the proof that Sophia Bellweather was different from the gold-diggers and social climbers wh

voice whispered a warning. It's too fast. Too

of letting Seraphina's betrayal poison every good thing in his life. Sophia

him before he could second-guess

ing at the same time. "Thank you," she whispered against his cheek. "Thank you, th

against his chest. He wanted to believe her. He wanted to believe that this was the beginning

wn, a cold knot of doubt remained lodged in his chest-the same kno

to God or fate or some kinder universe. Pleas

t let me be