The next morning, Vivienne moved through the mansion as usual, unaware of the storm she had stirred in Grayson's mind. He watched her from a distance, his thoughts tangled with desire and guilt.
For the first time, the lines of the contract felt meaningless. He wanted her—not as a business arrangement, not as a requirement—but as someone he couldn't bear to be without.
Vivienne, still naive to the shift in his emotions, focused on her studies and daily chores. But subtle glances, lingering moments, and small acts of attention from Grayson began to change the rhythm of their shared life.
The contract that once defined their relationship was no longer enough. Grayson's heart had chosen, and Vivienne's world, whether she realized it or not, was about to be altered forever.