Page 63 of Modern Romance March 2025 (5-8)

“No,” Rafe agrees.

“The only timeline in there was the two years before we were allowed to…” Bile rises in my throat. When I’d read the clause about no affairs for two years, I’d framed it as having two years to show him how much I loved him. I want to shake some sense into the woman I was. “So there’s no reason for us to continue on. I’m invoking the provision allowing one of us to change their minds, especially if their future wishes no longer align with the other party’s.”

More silence. Long seconds that stretch out into what feels like an eternity as I face down the man I thought I’d be with forever. The man I thought might be able to fall in love with me.

Idiot.

“I’ll sign.”

I breathe out. It hurts, how easily he can let us go. But it’s just another reminder I never should have agreed to this in the first place. And at least there’s relief in knowing this will be over soon. That I will finally be able to move on and embrace my future.

“Thank you.”

“On one condition.”

Apprehension pricks the back of my neck. I should have known it wouldn’t be that easy. “Oh?”

“The divorce won’t be finalized until after our first anniversary.”

CHAPTER THREE

Tessa

PANIC CRAWLS UPmy throat. Eight more months? After wasting twenty-one years of my life under someone else’s thumb, eight months feels like an eternity. Especially knowing I can have the things I thought might be out of my reach. Things like a family of my own. Children. Things the man sitting across from me wants nothing to do with.

“Why?”

Rafe’s face hardens. Even knowing him as I do, my body tenses. I’ve rarely seen him like this, every muscle in his body wound tight, anger lurking beneath the surface. So many people think Rafe feels nothing.

But they just don’t know where to look.

“Lucifer’s will stipulates that for me to inherit my share of Drakos Development, including all European and Asian holdings, I have to surpass our one-year anniversary.”

My mouth drops open. “What?”

Rafe’s father had barely paid me any attention. Something I’d been more than fine with. The man was an odious, selfish toad who lived to satisfy his own desires and make his sons miserable.

“That’s insane.”

Rafe’s smile is small but lethal. “On that, we agree.”

My mind races as I sit back in my chair. “So Gavriil and Juliette…”

Rafe nods. “My requirement was to reach our first anniversary. Gavriil’s requirement was to marry within a year of the will reading and stay married for a year.”

Hurt cuts through me. Gavriil and I have been friends since my family moved to Santorini. With our house being perched on the shore and within a three-minute boat ride of the private island Lucifer Drakos had built his lavish villa on, it had been easy for Gavriil to ride over with the housekeeper when she came to Santorini to do the shopping or visit with friends. It had been on one of those visits that Gavriil had seen me sitting outside on our porch and asked why I was in a wheelchair. After I told him I’d fallen off a wall, he’d asked if he could try it sometime in the innocent way so many children see life. He treated me like a person instead of someone to be handled delicately or ignored. We’d been best friends ever since.

Or at least I thought we had. Him not telling me about the will, about his real reason for marrying Juliette, stings. I’d even started to view Juliette as a friend. She was my third client ever, and the largest account to date.

I bit down on the inside of my cheek. This is part of what I need to work on when it comes to business. Keeping things professional. Not letting personal feelings get in the way. To be more like my husband.

The thought has me choking back a laugh.

“Gavriil didn’t tell you?”

I narrow my eyes at the slight taunt in Rafe’s voice. “No.”

“Interesting.” He glances at me over the rim of his glass. “If you and I hadn’t been married, I imagine he would have asked you.”

---