LOGINA brief silence filled the room, but Sam got up first.“Are you sure?” he asked carefully, his brow raised. “Once it's done, it—”“Yes,” Marie interrupted him, her eyes darting around until they landed on Ronan.Sam straightened up. “I’ll ask you one—”“You heard her,” Ronan interjected, moving closer. “She said she forfeits it.”Marie’s heart pounded violently in her chest as Sam nodded and reached for his tablet.It was done.Glinda approached her, and for the first time ever, she smiled genuinely.“Oh, Marie,” she said warmly, taking her hand.Heat crept up Marie’s cheeks.“You’re the best,” Glinda added, her smile widening.Marie’s eyes instinctively searched the room for Tiffany, but she wasn't there.A weird longing stirred in her chest. She wanted Tiffany to see this, to hear it, to understand that she would always be the one who got that man.Glinda pulled her into a hug and she froze. Was this real? Were the Hills finally accepting her? Delight coursed through her and her bl
“Absolutely not!”“That will never work!”Marie’s pulse hammered as Ronan and Glinda screamed wildly.In another lifetime, being the source of their anger would have been delightful, but right now it wasn’t. Instead, it filled her with dread.She stared at the gold ring on her finger, her throat tight.“You are not the lawyer,” Bruce said, his eyes blazing with anger. “If he says it can work, then it will.”His hand dropped to her waist and the contract made her stiffened.This was meant to be a harmless act; something temporary to survive the Hills—a performance.It had been stupid to kiss him.But somehow that kiss had escalated into something dangerous.“We don't have to be the lawyer!” Glinda shot back, “You have no right to take everything Barbara had.”“She gave them to me!” Bruce snapped. “That’s not the same thing.”Marie swallowed hard, saying nothing. The alcohol she had taken earlier had faded, leaving behind a dull headache and clarity she didn’t want.“Can we all calm dow
Bruce had no idea what was going on but he enjoyed it somehow.It was her.The redhead from last night. She had disappeared from his bed without a word and was now in his grandmother's estate.“How did that even happen?” Ronan roared, his eyes blazing.Confusion swirled inside Bruce but he said nothing. The rage in Ronan’s eyes did excite him a little.“That's none of your business,” the redhead said, tightening her grip around Bruce's arm.Despite how steady her tone was, her hands were shaky.He remained silent, letting her take control of whatever this was.Ronan took a step forward but the woman beside him quickly held him back.“Let's go,” she said softly. “Your mother is waiting.”Bruce watched as Ronan’s eyes lingered on the redhead before he eventually left.Once they walked away, the redhead exhaled.“Gosh! That was… insane,” she muttered, forcing a tight smile. “Thank you.”Bruce raised a brow. “What was that about?”Her lips twitched. “Well, you don't have to be so rude. I
“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 their lovemaking replayed in her head; his touch, his warmth.He had been gentle, attentive, nothing like she expected. He had touched like she mattered.Her cheeks flushed as she wore her clothes. A part of her hated all this, yet another part, a small part of her was grateful.It had been good.More than good. When she was done dressing, she paused and stared at his gorgeous face. She had never seen another man finer than Ronan.Except he had a tougher exterior. It was a mixture of sweetness, danger and arrogance.When he stirred, she gasped, picked up her purse and dashed out of the room. Only when she left the building, did she realize they had come to a hotel.“Oh Marie,” she gasped as sh
“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 from good.It had been ten weeks, ten weeks of being a single woman, ten weeks of returning to her parents' house, yet she still didn't have the strength to face life.Nothing felt right.“I have something to tell you,” Paige said, perching on the bed.Her brow creased. “What?” “Eat first,” Paige smiled.Marie's stomach dropped. “Paige… just tell me.”“It's nothing serious, I promise.”She eyed her elder sister suspiciously, before picking up the tray. The smell alone made her stomach tighten with hunger.When she was done, she faced Paige.“So?”Paige hesitated briefly, then sighed. “I think… it’s time you went back to work.”Marie immediately shook her head. “Absolutely not. I’m not ready
“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 now, Ronan had brought his mistress into their home.To console him.He hadn’t even allowed himself to grieve; he just wanted to fuck his way out of it.The thought burned, forcing tears from her again. She hugged herself tightly, her mind racing.There was nobody in Ronan’s family to share her grief with, his mother and sister despised her.“You have to fight,” she hiccupped, remembering Grandma Barb's words. The memory gave her courage to stand, and even to walk to Ronan’s room, but when she reached the door the courage faltered.It was half open and Marie could see just enough.Tiffany was on top of her husband, wearing only her lingerie.Marie froze, her chest clenched.“That was easier







