Page 181 of Modern Romance January 2025 1-4

‘But you don’t need to marrymeat all. You could marry anyone.’

‘Of course I could,’ he agreed.

Elodie stilled, shocked as a hot spear of jealousy stabbed deep inside her.

‘But that wouldn’t solve the problem withinyourfamily,’ he added with a charming smile. ‘Won’t your father simply find your sister another husband she doesn’t want?’

That was ahorriblepossibility.

‘You need a more permanent solution for your own family drama,’ Ramon said. ‘I can be that solution.’

He made it sound so simple. So easy to say yes to something so insane. But Ramon Fernandez was more powerful than both her father and her ex put together, and she should be running far, far away.

‘I’ve been married before,’ she said flatly. ‘I have zero intention of doing it again.’

He leaned back and studied her. ‘You were nineteen.’

She glared at him. Heknew?

‘Why did it end?’

The atmosphere sharpened. When did he learn that about her—had he pried into her personal life while she’d been resting?

‘You were unfaithful?’ he asked harshly.

‘Repeatedly,’ she lied furiously.

His expression pinched. He believed her. It was important that he did. It was another layer of armour for her. Sheneededhim to think she was trouble—that she was tough. That he couldn’t control her.

‘Which I assume is the source of your supposed danger,’ he said. ‘Your flightiness. Your highneeds. Perhaps our marriage could restore your reputation?’

‘I don’t want torestoremy reputation,’ she snapped. ‘Ilikemy life. It took a lot to get my freedom and I’ll fight to keep it however I have to—’

‘You do realise that I’m not talking about forever?’ he interrupted with a low drawl.

‘You do realise that I could make your married life the worst thing ever?’

‘I was rather hoping you’d suggest that.’ His smile widened to full crocodile threat. ‘You’re everything they’d hate. My marrying you would be their worst nightmare.’

Great. Good to know her efforts to be repellent had been so successful. She breathed through the hit and pulled on a ruthless smile—drawing on the persona she’d cultivated after walking out on her marriage after only five months. The one that had finally given her ex the impetus to agree to the divorce he’d tried to delay. He’d begged her to come back but neverlistenedto why she didn’t want to. He’d wanted the obedient Elodie he’d first met, not the free Elodie she’d desperately needed to be.

‘Because I’m a troublemaker?’

She’d played ‘unfaithful wife’. Repeatedly. She’d posted ‘incriminating’ pictures all over social media until finally neither Callum nor her father could stand the continued public humiliation. The divorce had been expedited at last, and Elodie had been wiped from her own family’s photos.

And Ramon Fernandez clearly thought he knew all about her now—knew her fickleness, flippancy, infidelity. Of course he wasn’t afraid of it. Maybe the only thing that mattered to him was money.

‘Because you’re an independent woman who’s not afraid to say what she thinks or to ask for what she wants,’ he corrected.

Elodie’s breath stalled as a lick of pleasure curled inside her. Independent? Not afraid? Maybe he was just being smooth but that was how she wanted him to see her. Strength mattered. And she would remain strong in front of him now.

‘Unfortunately that’s not going to work on my side.’ She coolly denied him. ‘Becauseyou’renotmyfamily’s worst nightmare.’

‘No?’

Hell, no. Her father, so impressed by grandeur, by supposed social standing, would be a drooling sycophant should he ever meetthisRamon Fernandez.

‘You supposedly have billions,’ she said. ‘If I were to marry you they’d be over the moon, basking in the glory of such a connection. They wouldn’t care if you treated me badly. In fact they’d probably cheer you on.’

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