Chapter 6

Hannah Sterling leaned against the bookshelf, her jaw hanging open as she stared at Chloe. "You did what? You actually went through with it?" "The papers are signed and filed, Hannah," Chloe said, a faint, firm smile touching her lips as she organized a stack of new arrivals. "It's official. I'm a married woman." "I leave you alone for five minutes and you marry a billionaire on a whim," Hannah teased, her eyes widening with a mix of shock and morbid curiosity. "Is this like one of those romance novels you sell? Are we expecting a dramatic reveal at a masquerade ball?" Chloe laughed, shaking her head. She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and gestured around the quiet bookshop. "It's hardly a fantasy. It was a practical solution to a practical problem. And please, keep your voice down. Olivia doesn't know the specifics yet, and I'd like to keep it that way until I'm fully settled." "Practical," Hannah repeated, testing the word. "Right. So, where does this practical husband of yours live? What does he even do for a living? Does he have a job that requires him to be a person, or is he just... rich?" "He lives in Briarwood," Chloe replied, keeping her focus on the books. "As for his job, he seems busy enough. We haven't exactly spent our evenings discussing his resume." Hannah's expression shifted from teasing to concerned. She straightened up, her tone becoming more serious. "Listen, Chloe, if he's got money, you need to be smart. Did you get your name on the title deed? You need that protection. Men change their minds, but property stays put." Chloe paused, a heavy hardcover in her hands. "He paid for the house in full. I haven't contributed a single penny to the purchase or the upkeep. It wouldn't be fair to demand my name be on the deed when I've put nothing in. I'm not looking for a handout, Hannah." "It's not a handout, it's security," Hannah argued. The words triggered a sharp, uncomfortable realization in Chloe's mind. She thought of her sister, Olivia. For years, Olivia had poured her own earnings into renovating their family house, making sure every room was perfect and every repair was handled. Yet, the house had been purchased by Chloe's brother-in-law before the wedding. He was the one managing the monthly mortgage payments, and his was the only name on the deed. Despite all her sister's financial contributions to the home's interior, Olivia held no legal claim to the roof over her head. It was the same vulnerability the brother-in-law used as leverage whenever he accused Olivia of squandering money. Chloe set the book down, her chest tightening. She had moved out to stop being a burden, but seeing the parallel between her sister's lack of security and her own situation made her stomach churn. By eleven o'clock that night, the shop was quiet, the street outside Riverbend High School dimming as the foot traffic died away. Hannah was still lingering, checking her phone. "Go on home," Chloe suggested, nudging her friend toward the door. "You said your family was treating you to dinner tonight, and you live right around the corner. Don't be late on my account." "You sure? You've still got to close up," Hannah said. "I'm fine. It's just twenty minutes of cycling for me. Go." After Hannah left, Chloe finished the closing routine in a bit of a daze. She locked the glass doors and began the ride toward her sister's neighborhood. She had intended to stop by and check on Olivia, perhaps see if the tension with her brother-in-law had eased, but as she pedaled down the familiar street, she saw the house was completely dark. The silence of the building felt heavy, discouraging. She didn't want to wake them or spark another argument. She turned her bike around and headed toward Briarwood. It was midnight by the time she reached the gates of the villa. Pushing open the front door, she was greeted by a wall of cool, still air and absolute darkness. There were no shoes in the hallway, no lights humming in the kitchen. It felt less like a home and more like a high-end gallery after hours. The impression that no one else lived there was so strong that she didn't bother turning on the main lights, heading straight to her room to sleep. Across town, the glass doors of the Riverbend Grand Hotel slid open. Noah Hayes stepped out into the humid night air, his stride long and purposeful. He was flanked by a group of bodyguards, their presence a silent, looming perimeter around him as he adjusted his cufflinks, the adrenaline of a finalized deal still cooling in his veins. One of the bodyguards stepped forward, opening the door to a sleek black sedan. "Where to, sir? Back to the estate, or shall we head to the hilltop villa?" Noah paused, his gaze drifting toward the city skyline before he settled on a decision. The quiet of the suburbs seemed more appealing than the structured silence of the main estate. "Briarwood," Noah said, his voice direct and clipped. "Take me home." ════════════════════════════════════════