Page 119 of Money Reigns

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A pause.

“I didn’t. It was the best piece of media about me in years.”

Her eyes flick to mine, hesitant.

“I needed something good,” I murmur. “Something I could look at and remember that not everything about my name is stained. So I commissioned it.”

Her voice is soft. “You commissioned a portrait of me?”

“Of us.”

She turns toward the canvas again, lips parting slightly.

I step closer, my tone dipping.

“Do you like it?”

She swallows. Nods. “It’s… beautiful.”

“Would you like to keep it?”

Her head snaps toward me. “What?”

I lift a brow. “We can hang it in our bedroom.”

Her whole face flushes.

“I’m not moving in with you,” she stammers, breath catching. “I never said yes.”

I smirk, stepping even closer. “Then tell me no.”

Her lips twist.

Turns to look at the portrait.

Then at me.

Then back again.

And then—

A breath.

A blink.

A choice.

“No,” she breathes. “I don’t think I want to tell you no anymore.”

The ache in my chest tightens. Spreads.

And for the first time in years…

I feel fucking whole.

***

She says she doesn’t want to tell me no anymore.

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