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Tess bit her lip but hesitantly obeyed Her penrip, but I didn’t care

The moment she finished the little flourish at the end of her naht lifted off my shoulders One more way she was joined to me for life One more way she’d proven she was mine One ardless ofonly: to save women And now it had saved thelife

Her

Always her

Eternally her

I tossed the paper at Frederick "File it with the lawyers We’re leaving" Reaching down to hoist Tess to her feet, she whispered, "Q…how n over to me?"

Ah, the er hate my fortune because it was hers

A shot of jittery happiness erupted downthis sink in No ed forever

Not re my eyes from hers, I des wishes to know"

Tess shuddered as Frederick caentle, understanding--from one person who’d had no wealth to another "You’ve just inherited nine billion, seven hundred thousand euros, as of thisdaily"

Tess prohts and lustful need,to this swirling new greed

I

I pinched myself for the billionth time

Hah, billion

I’s I’d never felt so…surreal There were no words to describe the euphoric weakness or the heart-nuast

Q’s hand landed betweentouch belied his true feelings I’d never seen Q like this I personally thought he’d gone insane; he’d finally cracked, and I’d never find the sometimes sullen, always teines suddenly increased in decibel, shooting us down the runway like a rocket Looking up, I steeled ainst Q’s handso since I woke up fro episode

"It’s not the end of the world, esclave" His pale eyes danced, not showing lowered and looked out the --pointedly ignoring him It was the end of the world--et used to the luxury and con a piece of paper--under duress no less--and accept his entire fortune when I had no right to it at all

Turning to hio back I want Frederick to tear it up"

Q reclined; his long legs stretched in front of hi at the ankles His hair shone fro in the circularas the plane swooped into the sky In his black trousers and white shirt, he was a splash of sophistication in the otherwise hushed cream world of the private jet

"Noould I do that?" He couldn’t wipe the da to co, he leaned over and cuppedin love with a ed your perception on how you see the world"

My belly fluttered He’d already done that He’d made me a lover of pain He’d made me an accoo He’d turned my life completely inside out, back to front, bleached it, then cut it up and sewed it back together

All while keeping so fro in Q’s liey whenever I tried to watch TV or go online He’d hidden all the news froerous it was to have people know the truth

Foreboding sat like a heavy se on my heart

This is too much! All of it I needed to know the truth Howso damn blasé

"Can you be serious for one second?" I hadn’t been cross with hi annoyedhis perfect neck My mouth went drier than a desert

Holy hell, hoas I supposed to concentrate when everything about hiaze locked on ers, he said, "It can’t be the fact you’ll never go hungry, or cold, or homeless It can’t be the fact you’ll always be safe and be able to afford the best protection and healthcare And it certainly can’t be the fact that you can use that ain "God, you’re acting like Isentence"

Swivelling inonto the cushioned aret it You’re giving away half of theit like it’s nothing"

And hiding your safety fro it for his well-known aggression "Ça y est tu peux passer au dessus"It is Get over it

"No Not until I’ve processed it Don’t you understand I’d won the lottery by finding you? That all ranted when you fell in love witha billionaire inyou?" My eyes burned as tears puddled from nowhere Damn, I didn’t want to cry I didn’t want to appear weak I didn’t kno to formulate my real concerns because I didn’t even understand them myself

My real fear stemmed from Frederick’s veiled comment

"They’ve saved your business but taken--" Taken what? How soon? I couldn’t stoe of anger, confusion filling his gaze "Tess--it’s because of those reasons why I gave you the money I’ve never trusted anyone to use e to share that responsibility It’s because you love ht of the Mercer fortune"

I looked out theagain, sing the lump that had the audacity to choke I’m afraid I’m not worthy of all of this I’m afraid life will expect me to pay another toll, and I’m terrified I won’t be able to afford it