But I looked at the legal document again, and a cold dread settled in my stomach.

“Why are you in such a hurry, Jason?” I asked.

“If Ethan is never going to wake up, why not just wait?”

Jason’s smile faded, his lips pressing into a thin, hard line.

“Because the board is getting restless,” he said.

“They want stability.”

“And because I do not like leaving loose ends.”

He reached out and took the glass of scotch from the desk, swirling the amber liquid.

“You shouldn’t feel any loyalty to him,” Jason said, watching me closely.

“You didn’t choose this marriage.”

“I know how you ended up here.”

I kept my face still, but my hands tightened on the paper.

“My father had debts,” I said.

“Vivian offered to clear them if I married her grandson.”

Jason let out a short, mocking laugh.

He took a slow sip of his drink, his eyes gleaming with a cruel amusement.

“Vivian did offer to clear those debts,” Jason said.

“But do you really think that was enough to buy a daughter?”

My breath caught in my throat.