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    Mary stood still as the men began filing into the room. There were six of them, all dressed in tailored suits, carrying sleek briefcases or documents sealed with wax. Behind them, a crew of uniformed staff waited outside with cases-ck leather, reinforced corners, heavy.


    One of the suited men stepped forward. He adjusted his sses and offered a slight nod.


    “Good afternoon. My name is Thomas Renner. I’m the legal representative of Hayes Holdings. I was instructed by my client, Mr. Logan Hayes, to deliver the official betrothal gifts to Miss Emery Vaughn.”


    Adam moved first. “Hayes Holdings?” he asked sharply. Hayes Holdings is apany based in Europe! Why the hell would Emery be associated with their likes?


    Mary’s eyes didn’t leave the man. Hayes wasn’t amon name, but it carried weight. She’d heard it mentioned in private circles, but the family kept a low profile. Mostly international, not tied to the East Coast elite. Quiet wealth. Generational. This wasn’t just a family of money. This was legacy.


    “All items have been legally transferred under Miss Vaughn’s name,” thewyer continued. He gestured to one of the aides, who stepped forward and opened a document case with practiced


    hands.


    “These are the assets included in the bride price, officially dered and notarized this morning.” He began listing them off as if reading from a grocery receipt. “Two penthouses-one in Manhattan, one in Singapore. A vineyard and estate in Bordeaux. A ski chalet in the Swiss Alps. A fully staffed yacht is currently docked in the Amalfi Coast. One private jet, Gulfstream G700. A thirty-acre private property in Aspen, including a modern mansion and two guest lodges. Initial deposit of twenty-five million USD into a joint trust, essible only to Miss Vaughn and her future children.”


    Mary’s fingers curled slightly on the back of the chair she was standing behind.


    “Wait a minute-” Adam took a step forward, but thewyer was already pulling out another folder.


    “And this,” Thomas said, lifting a second document, “is a prenuptial agreement. It was signed this morning by both parties-Mr. Logan Hayes and Miss Emery Vaughn. Notarized. Witnessed.”


    Deana leaned forward, her eyes scanning the document. Mary stayed silent, watching carefully.


    “The agreement states that prior to the marriage, neither party shall have ess to the other’s estates, holdings, or private ounts. Everything acquired before the union remains individually owned. In the event of divorce, the initiating party is required topensate the other with an amount equal to the full value of the bride price.”


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    Mary’s eyes narrowed.


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    Thomas flipped to another page. “Additionally, if either party is found to havemitted adultery, the offending party is legally bound to pay three times the value of the bride price, calcted at current market value at the time of breach.”


    Adam’s mouth opened, but no words came out.


    Mary stepped forward now, slow and controlled. “Let me see that.”


    Thomas handed over a copy of the prenup. Mary took it and flipped through the pages. Everything was clean. Precise. Emery’s signature was there. So was Logan Hayes’. The dates matched. The uses were clear. She turned to the final page-signed, notarized, witnessed by a firm she recognized. High-end. Quiet.


    Adam walked over to her shoulder, reading behind her.


    “Is this even real?” he muttered.


    Mary looked up at Thomas. “All these gifts-Emery epted them?”


    “Yes,” Thomas said. “Each transfer was personally approved by Miss Vaughn. Some of therger asset


    paperwork was co-signed this morning.”


    “And Logan Hayes?” Mary asked. “Where is he?”


    “He will arrive shortly,” Thomas replied. “But he insisted the formalities be handled professionally. He didn’t want to ‘make a scene,’ as he put it.”


    Mary handed the document back, her mind calcting. This wasn’t a man throwing money around. This was strategy. Legal shields. Safetys. No ess to her estate. No ess to his. Full autonomy. And punishment uses severe enough to ruin either side if they yed games.


    She didn’t know this Logan Hayes. But clearly-Emery did.


    Mary turned to Adam, who looked like someone had knocked the wind out of him. Deana sat speechless, one hand on herp, the other still gripping the armrest.


    Mary didn’t say anything for a long while. She looked back at Thomas.


    “Is that all?”


    “There will be a formal engagement dinner tomorrow evening,” Thomas said as he adjusted the cuffs of his suit. “A private affair. Immediate family only. Personalized invitations will be delivered by hand


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    before nightfall.”


    He gestured to one of the men behind him, who stepped forward and ced an embossed velvet folder on the table. Gold detailing, sealed in wax. Mary recognized the emblem-Hayes Holdings’ private crest.


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    “As for the wedding,” Thomas continued, “the official invitations will be distributed tomorrow morning through secured courier. However, per Mr. Hayes’ instruction, you are to receive an advance copy.”


    He opened the folder and revealed the invitation-thick parchment, engraved lettering, custom calligraphy with gold foil. Even the paper smelled expensive.


    “The wedding will take ce in three days,” he said. “At Chateau de irvigne, a 17th-century private estate in the south of France. The entire Chateau and surrounding vineyards have been reserved exclusively for the event.”


    He gave a slight nod toward the side staff. “A private jet will be dispatched for each invited family unit. Door-to-door transport, five-star amodations, and security escorts have all been arranged. Mr. Hayes insisted on absolute discretion andfort.”


    Mary stared at the invitation. For a moment, no one spoke.


    This wasn’t a wedding.


    It was a deration.


    Mary gave a small nod. “Thank you.”


    Thomas bowed again. “My team will begin unloading the gifts.”


    He turned and walked out. Mary stood still for a few seconds, then slowly returned to her seat. Adam remained standing, pale.


    “She really did it,” he said under his breath. “She married a stranger.”


    Mary didn’t answer. Because she wasn’t so sure anymore.


    Stranger or not, this wasn’t the act of a girl rebelling blindly.


    This was Emery making a statement-one no one could ignore. She had disappeared for three days, and now she was back… with a wedding invitation bearing her name. Her own wedding. What in the world had happened in just seventy-two hours?


    T2DY Tue, Sept