No Longer Yours to Break novel Chapter 16

After the wedding, Zoe had stuff to handle.

Khelmark City was still new. Sure, she had the Lyttelton name now–but this was just a deal on paper.

After Connor, trusting any guy blindly? Not happening.

Pierre was gone. Vicky was overseas. Everything the Hertberts owned? Now hers.

She booked a meeting with her lawyer. Time to get Pierre’s estate sorted and kickstart her career here–for real.

***

In the back corner of the café, Connor slouched in a baseball cap and mask–drawing side–eyes from the staff.

Since when did a Buxton heir get treated like a weirdo?

Annoyed, he yanked at the mask. Thought Zoe glanced over–snapped it back on.

He’d disguised himself and followed her here after catching wind of her meeting.

She sat just behind him. The café was quiet enough that he could catch bits of her

convo.

After a while, it sounded like they’d wrapped things up.

The lawyer stood but paused. “Ms. Hertbert, since you’re married, don’t you need your husband’s input on the estate?”

Zoe barely smiled. “Not necessary. It’s just an arrangement.”

The lawyer, clearly used to this stuff, nodded and left.

Connor didn’t move. Frozen, buzzing.

He hadn’t misheard.

Zoe said it herself–her marriage to Lucian was just for show.

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And from how she said it? They weren’t nearly as close as they seemed at the

wedding.

Connor could barely contain his grin.

He knew it. Zoe had been into him for twenty years–no way she’d just moved on.

She was probably still mad. But if he just swallowed his pride and apologized, he could totally fix this…

Buzzing with adrenaline, he shot up and made for the door–only to run straight

into Zoe.

The second their eyes met, that same cold, disgusted look hit him like a slap.

She opened her mouth to call out, but he slapped a hand over it.

Her eyes went wide–this time with fear.

The door chime rang–someone walked in.

Zoe twisted toward the entrance, ready to yell—but Connor yanked her behind the couch in a flash.

He pressed a finger to his lips, eyes locked on hers, gripping her wrist like a vice.

Only after she gave a stiff nod did he drop his hand from her mouth.

“I’m not here to drag you back,” he rushed out, peeling off the mask and cap, that weird, too–sure smile spreading across his face.

Zoe watched him, tense. She couldn’t shake him off, so she kept quiet, scanning for a way out.

Connor glanced toward the entrance, then nodded that way.

“Look who just showed up. I’ve got a little surprise for him. Think he’ll take the bait?

་་

Zoe turned–and froze.

Lucian had just walked in, brushing off his coat.

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Her eyes went wide. She moved to call his name—

But Connor beat her to it, hand snapping back over her mouth.

His voice slid into her ear like ice. “See the woman across from him? That’s Yvette Camorra–the Camorra heir right here in Khelmark. Now THAT’S a match. Her family’s been chasing this alliance forever. Your little shotgun wedding? Drove her nuts… Didn’t Lucian mention he was meeting her today?”

Zoe froze. It felt like someone dumped a bucket of ice down her spine. Her fight slowed… then stopped.

Connor felt it and loosened his grip, pressing harder.

“The Camorras know you two just had the ceremony–no official registration. Yvette’s not backing off. If I had to guess, today’s meeting? Probably setting up their engagement. What do you think—”

Before he could finish, chaos erupted at the front of the café.

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