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“Nothing in life has guarantees, bella”

Nausea bubbling up her throat, Clio searched his face, wondering if he was joking Praying that it was a nightraines playing a trick on her

Because this couldn’t be happening, could it? Anotherher love with money, was he?

“I don’t get it, Stefan You’re paying me so that you can buy the trust you apparently can’t show in me? Like all the celebrity couples who first draw prenups to protect their assets from each other?”

“You do not have any assets”

“Exactly So are you protecting yourself?”

He cursed so long and loud that Clio had goose bu this I tore up the old contract I hate how Jackson cheated you I want you to never have to worry about”

“Really? After a decade of knowing h life?”

“No This is so for my own peace of mind”

Clio shook her head, understanding dawning She shot up fro for an outlet, even as a deluge of pain broke her within

It was so easy to think it was her fault, so easy to think he was doing this because she didn’t have any money, to think it was because he lacked trust in her motives, in her

It wasn’t

It wasn’t about her at all

Stefan knew her better than any other person in the entire world But the freeing thought only gave way to another gut-wrenching truth

“Five hundred asping for breath “Because I’m sure if you have a chat with your buddy Jackson, he will tell you that I should come in a lot cheaper”

The rabbed her ar in his temple “Don’t you dare talk as if Jackson and I are the same kind of man, bella Don’t you dare cheapen yourself”

“So theto her rescue

“Stop twisting my words”

She grabbed the contract and threw it on the ground, tears falling over her cheeks “God, you still don’t get it, do you, Stefan?

“This is the price for everything we share, Stefan This is the price for our happiness, our life together that you’re talking about You’re buyingevery word I would say to you, attaching a price tag to even the sex we have”