Back in Richard’s penthouse, Mia stared out the window, the city lights reflecting in her eyes. Her mind was spinning with questions—not just about the Scotts, but about her new life.
“What’s troubling you?” Richard asked, removing his blazer.
She turned. “That woman… she was so convinced I was someone else.”
Richard poured two glasses of wine. “The world is full of doppelgängers.”
“But what if it’s more than that?” Mia pressed.
He handed her the glass. “Then we’ll find out. Together.”
His words held a rare warmth, one that made Mia pause. Was this really the same man who had coldly bought her? There was softness under his armor, one he revealed only in glimpses.
They sat in silence until Mia asked, “Why did you put that clause in the contract—the one where only you can end it?”
Ri
