Joanne's breath caught in her throat. Her entire body froze. She opened her mouth, but no words came out.
If Philip Winchester had named someone else—anyone else—would she have still accepted?
Of course, she would have. Wouldn't she?
She had been drowning in debt, cornered with no way out. Her grandfather had just died, leaving her with nothing but creditors banging on her door. It was pure desperation that had driven her to agree to Philip's terms. That was the truth, wasn't it?
But if it had been some other man, another Winchester… would she have been able to go through with it?
The thought unsettled her.
Joanne swallowed hard. "What are you trying to say?" she asked, her voice quieter than before.
Liam didn't look away. He was watching her carefully, like he was waiting for something.
"I'm just asking a question, Jo," he said evenly. "If it had been another name, would you have still agreed?"
