Chapter 53: There Was No Separating the Two

The vibe in the private room was like a ticking time bomb, so tense that you could cut it with a knife. Colin, looking all awkward and uncomfortable, tightened his fists. There was embarrassment, discomfort, and a big old serving of humiliation on his face. After a long, awkward pause, he finally cleared his throat and said, "Listen, I'm not handing over my house to your brother, and I sure as heck ain't buying a new one. If that's a deal-breaker for you, then let's forget this whole marriage thing." Eliana, watching Colin's rare moment of backbone, felt like giving him a standing ovation. Chloe's face turned sour with anger. The guy who usually danced to her tune dared to stand up to her now? "Colin, do you mean it?" "I'm sticking to our agreement. If you wanna change the deal, I can't help you," Colin said firmly, avoiding Chloe's gaze like it was a hot potato. He didn't want to give in. He'd been through the wringer with this woman during his teenage years; letting go wasn't g