“Ifyou get voted back in,” Taewon’s gruff voice sounds. “The faith in the Astor family is run to the ground, Levi. With this wave of scandals, the inner management is already destabilizing. The monthly attrition rate is projected at 2.2% based on our last few weeks.”
“Not to mention the stocks tanking,” Hayes adds, and immediately shuts up under my glare.
“But we’ve gotten rid of those hive embezzlement companies,” I say, grasping at straws. “Wouldn’t that—”
“They were a draining asset, Levi, sure,” Taewon cuts in. “But they had at least some revenue to coverup the laundering.”
Fuck. And now we’ve lost that revenue as well.
“We’re still net positive, Levi,” he says, trying to reassure me.
Sure, but for how long?
“Listen,” Jasper says, voice firm but measured. “This isn’t a financial collapse. It’s aperceptioncollapse of Astor Holdings. We can manage that.”
“As long as I stay on, you mean?” I ask wearily.
Neither of them answers immediately. Which is answer enough.
“You’ve got two years left on probation, Mr. Astor,” Hayes finally says. “Marry Ms. Wentworth, fulfill the clause, and we can… reassess afterwards. Remove it from the generational protocol.”
For my hypothetical children.
Not for me.
Not for Cece.
But for the next generation of Astor kids.
My stomach twists violently. Talk about being trapped.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
I need this fucking thing gone.
Because no matter how calm Cece’s being—no matter how detached or composed she tries to seem—I know this is painful for her. Especially after the fucking article that exposed the clause in all its disgusting glory.
Then there’s that damn photo of me and Iris.
Fucking hell.
This has to be hurting Cece.
Humiliating her.
Humiliatingus.
As long as this clause exists, she will never fullybelieve me. Never fully believe that I love her because Ichooseher.
Not because the contract cornered me into it. Or because I wanted the presidency that desperately.
Every part of our relationship is poisoned by this clause now.
Every kiss. Every touch. Every damn promise we made must ring hollow to her.
Because somewhere in the back of her mind, there’ll always be that question—
Would he still choose me without the clause?
