We will not chain her to Gemma for the rest of her days.

And then she offered me the settlement.

To marry Gemma, and to take over her legal guardianship, so that it would all be handled, quietly, and neither of you would ever have to know.” He wiped his face.

“I did not sign that contract for their blood money.

I want you to hear that.

I signed it because I loved your sister far too much to stand by and let them lock her away in that place.

Marrying her was the only legal way I could take her guardianship out of their hands and keep her free.