Page 154 of Theirs to Tempt: The Marriage Claim

Encrypted sectors begin resolving one after another.

Sophie folds her arms on the desk and leans closer. Caleb stands behind her right shoulder, and I position myself on her left.

None of us speaks.

Moments later, the screen flickers and a directory begins to populate.

Business names. Property addresses. Loans. Transfers.

Then it becomes more personal. Correspondence. Medical records.

Sophie inhales sharply.

A final folder loads.

Elizabeth Langford.

Sophie’s hand freezes on the mouse, and her entire body goes still.

Gently I touch her shoulder, wanting to protect her from whatever is there. “You don’t have to do this.”

Ignoring me, straightening her spine, she clicks.

Chapter Forty-Three

Sophie

I squeeze my eyes shut as adrenaline floods me so hard that my hand shakes.

Part of me doesn’t want to see this.

But I have to.

The first document that opens is from my university, and for a moment, I don’t understand what I’m looking at.

Then I see it.

FINAL NOTICE.

My stomach drops.

My tuition balance was overdue, and unless payment was received by five o’clock, my fall registration would be cancelled.

This can’t be possible.

Lucian’s hand tightens on my shoulder.

Just the day before that, Mom took me shopping for towels and sheets, insisting I needed the expensive mattress topper because dorm beds were notoriously uncomfortable. Dad carried boxes up three flights of stairs and complained dramatically about the absence of an elevator while Mom laughed at him from the hallway.

Then there’s an email from my mother to Dad. The university called again. They are cancelling her registration if the balance isn’t paid.

Dad’s response is underneath. I’m working on it.

My mom fires back. Use one of the tenant escrow accounts.

Oh God.

Mom’s suggestion isn’t just immoral; it’s illegal. That money belongs to tenants, not my parents.