The office was empty.
Christian had gone to a board meeting.
The housekeeper was gone for the day.
Ana didn't mean to snoop.
She was just looking for her old notebook.
But then she found the envelope.
Thick. Labeled in gold ink.
"PRENUP: EXECUTED COPY – A.R. & C.B."
Her heart stopped.
She'd never read it in full.
She had signed fast — like the girl with nothing to lose and no time to question what a billionaire needed protection from.
But curiosity was louder now.
And so was suspicion.
She slid it open.
Read the first page.
And then saw it.
🖋️ Clause 14.3 – "Emotional Engagement"
In the event that Mrs. Rae develops a measurable emotional attachment to Mr. Blake prior to the 6-month contractual term, and said attachment results in a publicly visible event (press appearance, statement, or scandal), the controlling shares of Blake Holdings remain solely in Christian Blake's name—irrespective of any negotiated split, buyout, or mutual dissolution.
Ana froze.
Read it again.
And again.
She wasn't just a pawn.
She was a trap.
An emotional insurance policy.
All this time, she thought she had leverage.
She thought she had choice.
But Christian had built in a clause that protected him if she fell first.
And she had.
Last night.
In the rain.
When she looked at him and didn't want to run.
🚪 Later – Christian's Office
He returned home hours later.
She was waiting in his chair, contract in her lap.
His face shifted. "Ana—"
"How long?" she asked quietly.
He didn't answer.
Her voice cracked. "How long have you been planning to win by breaking me first?"
Christian walked closer. "You weren't supposed to see that."
"I wasn't supposed to feel anything either. But here we are."
He sat across from her.
"I had to protect the company."
"And now?" she whispered.
He looked at her.
And said the one thing that broke her more than the clause:
"I don't know how to undo this."
She left the contract on the desk.
Didn't cry.
Didn't scream.
But that night, she didn't journal either.
Because what do you write…
…when the person you were falling for expected you to fall alone?
To be continued…