"The deeper Briony read, the tighter her brow furrowed.

Across the table, Xenia Cooper never took her eyes off Briony, studying every

flicker of emotion, every subtle shift in her expression. She watched in silence for

a full five minutes.

At last, Briony set the agreement down and lifted her gaze.

Their eyes met.

Xenia looked thoroughly satisfied with Briony's shock.

"Have you finished reading?" she asked, her tone edged with amusement.

Briony's voice was taut. "So-it was your bone marrow that saved my life."

Xenia arched an eyebrow. "That's right. Technically speaking, I'm your savior."

Briony's grip on the contract tightened.

"But Stewart repaid your debt for you, in his own way," Xenia taunted, a sly smile

curling her lips. "Tell me, Briony are you moved?"

Briony couldn't answer. She could never have imagined that the second chance at

life she'd been given had come at such a cost-a cost Stewart had paid in this

way.

The contract spelled it out, in black and white-not just a ten-year marriage

between Stewart and Xenia, but also an obligation: over three years, Stewart was

to remove every person in the company who stood against Xenia. In return, Xenia

would swallow up all the shares of Neonova Syndicate in those three years.

Xenia hadn't wasted a single word in the contract-her business acumen was on

full display. It was ruthless, prioritizing profit above all else.

The harshest clause? For the duration of their decade-long marriage, Stewart had

faithful. No betrayals, no infidelities, and no matter

Stewart was forbidden from requesting a

remembered that day Stewart had fallen silent. She'd sensed

understood just how different the truth was from

she'd suspected.

on

the risks enormous.

steadying breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions

know you're here talking to

you never found out," Xenia replied, looking at Briony

disdain. "He worries you'd feel guilty, wants to play the

I'm meeting you today. But don't worry-I'll tell him all about

when I get home."

me, then?" Briony asked

Xenia let out a short, derisive laugh. "Because

gave him two

It grates on me.

together, meeting Xenia's stare

just consider

here. I don't want

you live too comfortably.

these

Stewart.is my lawful husband.

keep your distance, and

to maintain

won't

like the

set the

squarely in

nothing

Cooper. I have

another woman's husband Stewart

been

from sharing our children,

nothing left

"But now that you know Stewart sold himself

feel grateful? Not even a

choice," Briony replied, her eyes

passive one in

caught off guard by Briony's

you're saying,

brought this on himself?"

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