I stay quiet, trying to shut up the voices in my head that are arguing about what all this means. One is telling me to get up and leave. The other to curl up into him and never go home. That's the voice that wins, so I sink farther into him, closing my eyes.

We both fall asleep, and I don't know which of us crashes first. I wake up the next morning, and Sebastian's body is strewn across mine. My heart starts beating faster as my fears turn to fresh panic.

What did we do?

I slowly move out from underneath him, then stare at him for a few more minutes. He's peacefully sleeping, and I want to stroke his cheek but don't. I almost slide back against his warm body. Then my conscience doesn't allow me to. I toss on my clothes and sneak out of his penthouse.

It takes a while for me to walk home, but when I finally get there, I go into the bathroom and stare at my reflection in the mirror.

I'm never going to be free of him.

I'm in over my head.

My phone dings. I glance at the screen, and my stomach drops.

Huck Peterson, Esq.: This is an appointment reminder from Huck's office for your 10:00 AM annulment appointment on January 2nd. Please let us know if you cannot attend.

My stomach dives.

He didn't cancel the meeting.

I pace my apartment. This has always been the plan, no matter what happened between Sebastian and me.

Does he want this?

I didn't hold up my end of the bargain.

He probably wants to sign and get off the hook for the million dollars.

He already gave me more than a million. The building alone is worth at least three, and that's without the build-out he orchestrated.

I open my laptop and sign in to my email account. Then I start typing.

Huck,

Please make sure the paperwork states that I'm not to receive anything. I will not sign anything unless it states this. I waive my right to claim Sebastian is in breach of the contract since I won't have a week to review the paperwork.

Thank you,

Georgia Peach

Several minutes pass as I stare at the email. Sadness washes over me. I'll no longer be Sebastian's wife, but the desire to use his name at least once before he lets me go wins. I erase the Peach and type Cartwright. Then I hit send.

Thirty

SEBASTIAN

All day, I've been going crazy. I woke up expecting to see Georgia in my arms, but she was gone. I looked all over the penthouse. I texted and called her, but she's not responding again.

It's dinnertime when I drive to her apartment, feeling crazy again. She doesn't answer. I pound on her door, calling out, "Georgia!"

"You can't take a hint, can you?" her neighbor sneers.