Too Late, I Am The Real Heiress

The crisp, heavy parchment of the severance agreement scraped against the Italian marble coffee table.

Evan pushed the document forward, his manicured index finger tapping the surface. A cashier's check for five hundred thousand dollars rested on top. The sound of the paper sliding stopped Adeline's hand mid-air. She held a porcelain coffee cup, the dark liquid inside perfectly still.

Adeline lowered her gaze to the six figures printed on the check. Her thumb pressed hard against her index finger, the nail digging into the skin until it turned white. The sheer absurdity of the moment lodged in her throat like a dry pill.

Evan adjusted the platinum cufflink on his left wrist. He leaned back in the custom leather sofa, his posture radiating the exhausted patience of a man dealing with a slow child.

"Strong Group is filing for bankruptcy by the end of the quarter if we do not secure the supply chain injection," Evan said. His voice was flat, practiced. "I have to marry Piper. The Stafford family backing is the only thing that will save the board."

Adeline set the coffee cup down. The ceramic clinked sharply against the saucer. She lowered her eyelashes, forcing her breathing to shallow out. She let her shoulders droop, playing into the exact image of the helpless, dependent woman Evan had spent eight years molding her to be.

Evan let out a heavy breath. He stepped forward, closing the distance between them. He raised his hand and rested his palm on the top of her head.

Adeline's stomach churned. The bile rose in the back of her throat, but she kept her feet planted. She let her forehead rest against the lapel of his tailored suit.

"Just pack your things and move out quietly," Evan murmured, his chest vibrating against her face. "I will still take care of you. I can set you up in a nice place in Queens. You will never have to worry about rent."

Adeline raised her hands. Her fingers brushed against the knot of his silk tie. She traced the smooth fabric, her hands trembling just enough to sell the performance.

"Do you really have to marry her?" Adeline whispered, keeping her voice tight and fragile.

Evan closed his eyes. A satisfied sigh escaped his lips as he absorbed her submission.

"It is for the future of the company, Adeline. I have no other choice."

Adeline's fingers tightened around the silk. With a sudden, violent jerk, she yanked the unknotted tie downward and looped it around the back of Evan's neck.

The massive force pulled Evan off balance. He stumbled backward, his knees hitting the edge of the heavy oak-framed armchair. He crashed down into the deep cushions.

Evan's eyes snapped open in shock. He planted his hands on the armrests to push himself up.

Adeline lunged. She drove her knee hard into his thigh, pinning him to the seat. Her hands moved with terrifying speed. She whipped the ends of the silk tie around