MasukBruce's jaw clenched as he watched his phone ring silently.Ava rarely called him, let alone twice in a row. He tucked the phone into his pocket, returning his focus to the meeting. He wanted to be done already.“What exactly are you saying?” he asked, not hiding the annoyance in his tone.Tony's mother turned to him. “Settlement, Mr Fox.He scoffed, but before he could speak, Tanner beat him to it.“Let me get this straight,” Tanner said, leaning forward. “You want us to settle you because your son rolled into our establishment?”She frowned. “That's the thing. Why did you say rolled in?”“Because he did roll in.”“Don’t we get credit for making your son comfortable?” Leo asked.Bruce's gaze shifted to Tony. The young man sat in his wheelchair, his face flustered with embarrassment as he stared in silence.There were six people in the meeting room: Bruce, Tanner, Leo, Tony, his mother, and their lawyer.“I think every establishment should accommodate people with disabilities,” the l
“Hello everyone,” Marie said, lowering herself into an empty chair.Her pulse hammered as she sat.“You must be Marie,” one of the unfamiliar men said.“Yes,” she nodded.He extended his hand. “Lovely to meet you, I am Jude Fox and this is my brother, Abel.” He gestured towards the other man beside him. “We are Bruce's cousins.”More Fox family. How lovely.“It's nice to meet you,” she replied, shaking his hand.Abel nodded without saying a word.Ava moved away from her parents and sat beside Marie. “I love your red hair. Is it natural?”“Yes.”“It's so beautiful.”“Behave yourself, Ava,” Josephine said coldly.Ava straightened up with a sheepish smile.“So, tell us,” Gia began. “What do you do?”Marie's stomach tightened. Of course they wanted to know about her.But before she could reply, Josephine spoke.“She's a fashion stylist or used to be.”Gia frowned. “Used to be?”Heat crept under Marie’s skin.“Yes,” Josephine continued. “She closed down the business after she married Ronan
“Twenty million?” Marie’s eyes widened. “You're kidding?”Bruce shook his head again. “No, it's there.”Shock slammed into her. Twenty million dollars?How would she come up with that?She was unemployed, and there was no way her father could afford such an amount.“Guess we're stuck with each other,” Bruce said softly.She caught the amusement in his tone and it sent rage through her veins.“You knew what you were doing!” she snapped. “You trapped me! You picked a clause you knew you could afford.”Bruce rolled his eyes. “Twenty million in seven days is a lot, even for me.”“But it's possible?”He nodded. “Yes.”“Then do it.” Her voice softened. “Break this union, Bruce.”Surprise shot across his expression. “Why would I want to do that?”She stepped closer, hoping to convince him. “Because I want out of the agreement.”He chuckled. “You're too funny, Marie.”“I'm serious.” Her voice cracked slightly. “Please. Don't you want a woman who… wants this as much as you do?”One of his brow
“What?” Marie asked, her voice shaking.There had to be a mistake. Paige must have mistaken Bruce Fox for someone else.“You have your phone,” Gabriel asked, his voice mirroring the panic in her chest. “Check it yourself.”Marie immediately reached for her purse and took out her phone. She searched for the Winston girls.With every scroll, her stomach tightened. Every article was saying the same thing about Bruce.“This can't be right,” she whispered, facing Paige. Paige said nothing, she just walked over to another couch and sat.“What are the papers saying?” Jessica asked anxiously.“They said… he…” She struggled to find the words.“He's a pimp,” Paige finished grimly. “Two sisters who worked at his club came out publicly to say Bruce Fox forced them to sleep with the customers.”Everyone gasped.“According to them, it happened three times before they finally spoke out. One customer even broke one sister's neck. It's all over the news.”A pimp?Marie stared at her phone, her throat
One mistake.One small mistake and her life had changed.Marie stared at the contract papers. That was it, it was done. She was officially a wife again, except to the wrong man, to the wrong brother.“Here,” she said, handing Bruce the papers back.He looked at her, his eyes widening slightly as their fingers brushed. This was all wrong, she knew he felt it too, but it was too late.“So…” Bruce cleared his throat. “It's official.”“It's official,” she repeated. The words felt unreal.They sat in silence for a while until Bruce stood.“I'll be right back.”She watched as he walked away, his shoulder tensed. Once she was alone, she buried her face in her palm.“Oh, what have you done?” she muttered, her pulse racing.The day had started horribly and somehow it had gotten worse. A second marriage, she thought, except it was a complete opposite of her first.At least she had loved Ronan, even though it wasn't mutual.Her phone rang and she almost jumped from the couch. She reached for it
“Please,” Marie pleaded again, her eyes wide with shame.Bruce regarded her suspiciously before standing. He was still pissed at her, but the desperation in her voice was the only reason he had agreed.All eyes turned to them as Marie reached for his hand.His heart stumbled.It doesn't matter to her, it doesn't matter to her, he chanted inwardly. It was a performance.Once that thought registered, he forced himself to stay steady.“We are not done yet, Mr Fox,” Sam said politely.Beside him, Marie exhaled shakily. Bruce caught the panic in her eyes before she glanced at Ronan.Something had happened.One minute she had been all about Ronan, the next she was here, by his side again.A part of him wanted to sit back down and demand answers, but he didn't.“Our part has already been read,” he said smoothly, facing Sam. “Marie and I will leave now and prepare for our wedding.”Glinda let out a sharp laugh.“It’s not going to work and you know it.”Marie stiffened beside him.He turned to
“What the fuck? What the fuck?”The words slipped out as panic tightened in Marie’s chest, her hands trembling as she gathered her things.Everything was wrong. She knew she shouldn't have drank, she should have left the moment he showed no interest in her work.Her heart dropped as memories of the
“Hey my love,” Paige opened the door, holding a tray of chicken soup.Marie knew what it was because she could smell it. She sat upright, clutching her mother's gown.“It's hot,” Paige said, setting the tray on the bedside table. “You good?”“Yes,” Marie responded with a small nod, but she was far
“To console you?” Marie asked, her heart hammering violently.Ronan didn't answer, instead he lifted Tiffany and took her upstairs. Marie collapsed to the floor again, crying. It was double blows tonight; Grandma Barb was dead, the one person Ronan feared, the only shield Marie had was gone.And
“Happy anniversary, bab—” Marie stopped halfway into her husband's study, an eight-inch cake in her hand, her eyes wide.Ronan was naked in his chair, facing the window. One hand on his dick, the other holding a picture.“Tiffany,” he moaned, jerking himself even faster, oblivious to her presence.







