All Chapters of A contract for two: An Ashwood's bride: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

It was news to Talon that the Remington family, although wealthy and of high standards, had recently dipped themselves in a pothole full of muddy water. In summary, an uncalculated investment had plunged them into jeopardy.Their funds were at the lowest it had ever been in decades and that was why Talon's marital offer was welcomed with open arms by the Remington's.Mr Alfred's hands slightly shook, if Talon had already found out about it then it meant that little by little the news could leak and it wouldn't take long before a blazing headline carrying the near bankruptcy of the Remington family would be splashed all over news channels. He needed to salvage the situation."Scarlet....," he said turning to his golden child "I think you should let your sister sign""Dad!" Scarlet shouted, her fists..balled.Mrs Dolores shook her head and moved towards her daughter's side, holding Scarlet's arm in order to calm her down."Mr Ashwood, you are making a mistake choosing my other daughter"

"We will now proceed."A young clerk stepped forward, holding a thin stack of papers. She adjusted her glasses before speaking. "The marriage will be legally recognized once both parties consent, sign, and declare their vows in the presence of the judge and appointed witnesses." She paused, then glanced between them. "Do you wish to recite personal vows or proceed with the standard declaration?"Talon opened his mouth to speak but paused, giving Halo the opportunity to. He slightly tapped her back signaling for her to say something."I......uh, standard, yes i'd prefer standard"Talon nodded in agreement. He wasn't big on the whole kissing at the altar or court thingy anyways. The clerk barely reacted to her response before continuing. "In accordance with the law, do both parties understand that this union is legally binding and requires a formal dissolution should either party choose to part ways?""Yes," Talon answered.Halo hesitated, then whispered in agreement, "Yes."Mr. Vikram

She gingerly sat down on the white sofa closest to her, a few inches from the foot of the bed. She still couldn't push down the pangs of sharing a room, a bed with another person…...a man. She felt the weight of the box on her lap, her eyes looked forward and she bit the side of her lip, curiosity morphing into her features. She wanted to ask what it was but the fronted look Talon gave her showed that he wanted her to open the box herself. Which she did. Her fingers made quick work of the box’s lid as he pulled it off, staring at pile's of neatly stacked files inside the box. Files containing information on Zorro Ashwood. Why did he give her this, and why did this seem important?. Talon saw the confusion on her face and he sat in front of her, crossing his long legs. Dismissing the butler. "Why are you giving your brother's files to me?" Talon paused before leaning towards her, the space between their noses just a little. Halo instinctively leaned backwards, maintaining distance

Talon leaned against the dresser, arms crossed, watching his own reflection with mild frustration. The brush in his hand felt foreign, the lipstick even more so. He had tried. Really, he had. But after a failed attempt at styling Halo’s hair and smudging her eyeliner in a way that made her look like a sleep-deprived raccoon, he accepted defeat.The last time he had done someone’s makeup or hair aside from his, had been for his mother. And that had been years ago while she was still alive. He had always liked helping her do those little things instead of letting the maids do it.Halo had sat still throughout his efforts, though he didn’t miss the flickers of withheld laughs dancing in her eyes. "I didn’t know you were so......determined" she had commented.Talon exhaled through his nose, throwing the makeup brush onto the dresser. “Your hair isn't just agreeing to bend to my will. Neither is your face"Hair like hers wasn't hair he was used to, and he found it frustrating how tangly he

Halo held the journalist's gaze, her expression unwavering. "What he wanted, he went for. It's as simple as that."A murmur rippled through the room, but she didn't falter. "I don’t find it amusing or acceptable that the press continues to refer to me as 'the lesser twin.' I am just as capable as my sister, if not more. My value isn't determined by how well I fit into a narrative that favors familiarity over individuality."She leaned back slightly, her tone firm. "Talon chose me because he saw what he wanted, and I accepted because I saw an opportunity to build something great. This marriage wasn't about settling or second choices, it was a decision made by two people who knew what they wanted. And I-I won't entertain any more questions that attempt to undermine me or my marriage with my husband"She tilted her head slightly, offering a cool smile. "We're married. We're happy. That's the end of the story."Talon's smirk deepened, his fingers tapping against the armrest. Fuck, her res