Page 69 of His By Contract

“We have—had this tiny apartment above Mr. Peterson’s hardware store. The heat barely worked, but Theo never complained. He’d just bundle up in all his sweaters and keep playing with his trucks.” Georgia’s voice cracked. “I tried to make it feel like home.”

The memories rushed forward now: nights spent counting quarters for laundry, the constant fear when strange cars drove past too slowly, teaching Theo to stay quiet while collection notices slipped under their door. Her shoulders tensed, the muscles knotting under the weight of it all.

“Every time I saw a man in a suit, I’d freeze. I kept thinking someone would recognize me, that they’d tell a journalist where we were.” Georgia’s eyes burned. “But I couldn’t let Theo grow up in that world of power games and threats. I wanted him to just be a kid, you know?”

Her mother’s thumb traced circles on her palm, the same way she used to when Georgia was small and scared.

“And now Adrian’s here, and everything feels…” Georgia gestured helplessly with her free hand. “It feels like I’m caught between two different lives, and I don’t know how to make them fit together.”

“What does he want, Georgia?” Evelyn’s question cut through the quiet, gentle but direct. “Have you asked him?”

Georgia’s throat tightened. She stared at her hands, noting the tiny scars from years of pinpricks and the calluses from scrubbing floors. “I don’t know. Finding out about Theo…” She swallowed hard. “Maybe he feels obligated now. Like it’s another problem he needs to fix.”

“And if he doesn’t?” Evelyn’s voice remained soft. “If he wants more than obligation?”

“Mom—” Georgia’s chest ached at the possibility.

“I’m not saying trust blindly.” Evelyn squeezed her hand. “Be careful. Be smart. But don’t slam the door on something that might be real just because you’re scared.”

Georgia’s eyes burned. The thought of letting herself hope, of imagining Adrian might want them both, felt like pressing on a bruise—tender and dangerous.

She cleared her throat, needing to change the subject. “How did you end up here? This house…” Her voice trailed off as guilt crept up her spine.

Evelyn’s expression softened. “Adrian arranged everything. After you left, he moved me to a better facility. When I recovered, he made sure I had somewhere safe.” She gestured to the warm, comfortable room around them. “He never asked for anything in return. He just… took care of things.”

Georgia’s chest constricted as if caught in an invisible vise. The image she’d built of Adrian, the ruthless businessman who would end a marriage contract as easily as he signed it, shattered under the weight of his actions. Three years of quiet care for her mother. Three years of ensuring Evelyn had everything she needed, asking nothing in return. The truth of it burned through her defenses like acid through paper.

She pressed a trembling hand to her forehead, doubt knotting tighter inside her. “I thought once I left, that would be it. He’d just… move on. Cut ties and never look back. Why would he still—” She swallowed, the words catching in her throat, fear and confusion tangling together.

“Focus on what Theo needs right now,” Evelyn said, her voice anchoring Georgia back to the present. “That’s what matters most.”

Georgia nodded, exhaustion settling deep in her bones. The thought of Adrian being part of their lives, of navigating that complex territory while protecting Theo, made her head spin. She sank deeper into the chair, questions tumbling through her mind like leaves in a storm. But she was so tired. Those questions would have to wait.

Georgia traced her finger along the smooth granite countertop, watching steam rise from the coffeemaker. The house felt different in daylight, less overwhelming, but no less surreal. Her mother’s home, provided by Adrian, stood as a testament to everything she’d misunderstood.

The coffeemaker sputtered its final drops. Georgia reached for a mug. Each small task helped ground her, gave her something to focus on besides the weight of decisions hanging over her head. Sleep had cleared some of the fog from her mind, but questions still pressed against her chest like physical things.

The doorbell chimed, followed by the soft thud of footsteps in the hallway. A moment later, her mother appeared, with Adrian beside her. His tall frame filled the doorway, making the space feel smaller.

“You two should talk,” Evelyn said, her voice gentle. “I’ll go check on Theo.” She squeezed Georgia’s arm as she passed, leaving them alone in the sunlit kitchen.

Adrian loomed, his tailored suit at odds with the warm, cluttered countertops and well-worn tile floor. He stood with effortless confidence, one hand resting in his pocket, ice-blue eyes sweeping over the room. As he shifted his weight, the soft creak of polished leather against tile broke the quiet. Georgia’s fingers tightened around her mug, the silence between them thick with unspoken words.

She faced him, her spine straightening despite the tremor in her hands. Adrian’s gaze fixed on her with intense focus, and she caught the almost imperceptible tightening of his jaw.

“We need to talk about Theo.” Georgia said, forcing herself to meet his gaze. “He needs stability, routine. His whole life has been just us, and I—” She took a steadying breath. “As a Phillips, he’s had a normal childhood. No pressure, no expectations. Just a regular kid who loves dinosaurs and toy trucks.”

Adrian’s expression shifted, his brows drawing together. “Phillips?” His eyes darkened with an intensity that sent a flutter through her chest. “You gave him your mother’s name?”

Georgia’s fingers trembled around her coffee mug. “When I found out I was pregnant, using the Adler name wasn’t even a consideration.” The words came out softer than she intended. “He was going to be raised as a Phillips, living a normal life with no access to…” She gestured vaguely at the opulent kitchen around them. “All of this.”

Adrian stood motionless, his gaze fixed on her with an intensity that made her skin prickle, but she pressed on. “I knew you’d move on eventually, find someone suitable to have legitimate heirs with. Someone who belonged in your world.” Her fingers traced circles on her stomach, muscle memory from those endless nights when she’d lain awake, aching with theknowledge that her child would never know its father’s world. The old pain flared anew, sharp and raw beneath her ribs. “It wouldn’t have been fair to saddle him with a name that would only remind him he didn’t belong.”

Adrian’s fingers tightened on the counter’s edge until his knuckles paled. He stayed quiet, a stillness settling over him that made Georgia’s heart race, but his expression held something raw and unguarded she hadn’t seen before.

Georgia hesitated, her gaze dropping to her hands. “It just… didn’t feel like my place. Giving him your last name—it would’ve felt like I was trying to make him something he wasn’t, like I was claiming a legacy that didn’t belong to us. I didn’t want to force that on him—or on you.”

“You don’t know.” Adrian’s voice sliced through her words, barely above a whisper. “That night you overheard me in the study—I wasn’t planning to get rid of you.” His eyes held hers, intense and unwavering. “I was trying to protect you. The divorce papers were meant to give you a way out once the contract ended. I thought it was what you wanted—freedom from the expectations and control that come with being an Adler.”

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