Manuel shook his head. “You offered me money. The only thing of value in your arrangement was the woman you tried so hard to break.”

Emmett turned to Rosalie, expecting fear or hatred. She only looked back at him with total indifference — no longer the girl who trembled at the sound of his footsteps.

Chapter 6 — Their Own Free Will

Over the following months, Manuel’s father was formally exonerated, and Nelson Enterprises began to recover under clean management while his sister returned to finish her degree.

Rosalie gained full legal control of her mother’s trust and the Pinecrest estate.

One evening, Manuel came to her with a serious proposal. “Our marriage began under pressure and deceit. Now that you’re fully independent, I won’t contest an annulment if you’d rather be free.”

Rosalie gave him a slight smirk. “Are you saying you want to leave me?”