Nick's POV
"The plan?" I exhaled—long and hard—like the weight of it was crushing my chest.
"The plan is…" I paused, dragging a hand through my hair, trying to sound calmer than I felt. "We retract the charges against Raymond. But only if he and his father formally withdraw the deal they made with you. No more payment demands. No more blackmail. No more marriage arrangements."
I glanced at her, but her face gave me nothing. Still, I pressed on.
"In exchange, your so-called debt would be considered settled—paid by the cost of today's assault. Their reputation stays intact. Yours too. It'll be like none of this ever happened. And most importantly…" I swallowed. This was the part that burned. "They can't force you to marry into their family anymore."
I tried to sound clinical, detached. But my voice cracked anyway. "You'll be free. No more debt. No more prenuptial obligations."
