The Heir Clause

ORION:

I brokered a truce with my family's rivals. The cost? A marriage I didn't want to a woman I'd never met.

On paper it was a simple and strategic arrangement. The only flaw in the plan was her.

Léonie Fernández refused to be simple. She's stubborn, defiant, and has made it her personal mission to be as inconvenient as possible.

She negotiates everything. Questions everything. Argues like her life depends on winning.

This marriage was supposed to be politics, void of emotions and complications.

But somehow, she caught my full, undivided attention. And that's a problem.

LÉONIE:

I've spent my entire life being the perfect heiress. Smiled politely, spoken as softly as required, and never caused a scene.

I played by my family's rules, and I did it incredibly well. Except now I was tired of it.

So when my family informed me I was being married off to Orion Kade-a cold, ruthless businessman I'd only seen in magazines-I decided I was going to run.

But I didn't make it far.

Now I'm back, and forced to marry him anyway.

He might think he's won something. I wouldn't waste my time arguing with that. If he thinks I won't spend every second fighting him, he's in for a rude awakening.

I can't escape this marriage, but I can make him regret it. I'll make sure he earns every second of compliance he believes belongs to him.

This marriage might be inevitable. My free will on the other hand will never, ever be up for negotiation.