Page 104 of Fateful Hearts

They officially tied the knot, saying ‘I do’ in a simple courthouse ceremony last weekend, getting the happy ever after they deserve.

TheBusiness Times Magazinewishes them well.

The men of Ensure Asset Management are living the family lifestyle.

Our original assessment of Mr. Branson was way off base. We were given false and misleading information, damaging the Ensure Asset Management brand. We believe the trio of Harrington, Branson, and Grant are top-tier in mergers and acquisitions. We give two enthusiastic thumbs up.

The poll flashes on the screen, showing an eighty-nine percent approval rating for the article, five percent dissatisfied, and six percent basically don’t give a shit either way.

Smiling, I slap Nash on the shoulder and let out a relieved exhale. “Eighty-nine percent, I can live with that.”

Nash turns to look at me. “Seems like the shotgun wedding did the trick for your image. Now we just need to work on—”

“What thefuckis this?” We hear a commotion coming from outside Nash’s office.

We all turn to see Kyle standing at Zoey’s desk.

“Shit!” I take off, grabbing the confidential folder I was flicking through and taking it with me before Nash and Lucas can say anything. My fists are already balling at my sides, hearing Kyle talking tomy wifelike that.

“Nice to see you too, Kyle—”

“Don’t give me that bullshit, Zoey. What the hell have you gone and done?” Kyle glares at her as I approach, stepping up beside him with a deep scowl.

“Kyle, lower your voice. This is a place of bus—”

“Fuck you, Brad!”

“Really?” I raise an eyebrow. “You’re still running with that? It shows your maturity level.”

He scoffs, slamming the magazine to the desk. “You want to talk to me about maturity levels? You two went to the courthouse, arranged a sham marriage, and didn’t even tell me just so you could try and win a custody battle over me. You know it’s illegal to get married when your entire relationship is a fraud, right? I have no choice, Zoey. You have left me with none! I’m filing the papers for full custody as soon as I leave here. Hailee isn’t safe with you. You’re both unhinged.”

Zoey gasps, but I step into his personal space, having just about enough of his shit.

This asshole wants to play hardball, then I’m about to go nuclear on his ass.

“You’ve given me no choice, Kyle. I’m serious about protecting what’s mine.” I slam the folder against his chest with a little more force than necessary to drive the point home, and he has no alternative but to take two steps back with the power of my strike.

Zoey widens her eyes at me like she’s confused.

She had no idea about this.

She might kill me for it.

But I have to protect my family.

And I will do that in any way, shape, or form that may take.

Thisis howIchoose to do it.

Kyle stares at me like he is daring me to make another move.

So I do.

“You might want to take a look. I think you’re going to be very interested in the things you find inside.”

Kyle’s nostrils flare, his expression intense, as he pulls out the first set of papers I had Cleo draw up for Zoey. His eyes go wide as rage filters through him. Anger pours off him in waves.

Good.

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