the skyline ahead. He didn't speak, but I could feel the tension radiating from him like heat from a furnace. Whatever h

rolled movements of someone trying very hard not to lose control. I stood

he said

quest. A

t, his back turned to me, his hand braced against the marble counter. Then he exhaled slowly, t

es fixed on me in a way

ather say to y

was afraid,"

did you

I wa

that th

Adrian's eyes narrowed slightly, almost

for cracks. Weakness. Lies." His voice softened just a fraction-not gentle, b

wisted une

he wasn't someone who offered space, even small space, for honesty. B

fraid of y

nough that I wondered

"Of being here. Of pretending. Of di

, but something in his eyes shifte

ryone does." His voice dipped lower. "But l

lowly. "I

away. "You're not Evelyn," he said-not acc

ed, "But that doesn't mean you can't survive this marriage. My fa

wee

ed longer than t

rate. A second later, Marcus Hale stepped inside without knocking, wearing a charcoal

ot looking apologetic at al

ned. "What ki

"Your father's driver was seen talking to a private investig

mach d

d immediately. "Who h

rcus replied. "But if y

tantly. "He doesn't trus

me again, softer now, assessi

he weight of those wor

lenched. "Nobo

it. It wasn't affection. It wasn't kindness.

n we need to get ah

u are to stay inside the pent

in danger

Then softer, almost reluctant, "And I don't

heavier. Adrian looked away first, as

's something else." He held up his phone. "

most stoppe

d. "Brooklyn. T

ped forward

iny, taken from across the street. But it was unmistakably her-Evelyn, in a black co

Marcus must have seen something becaus

ce low and controlled. "It means Evel

e in New York? If she didn't want the

ed straight

m the wedding," he said. "She w

d quietly,

ver ran do

, I wasn't thinking about the wedding

nking abo

ad she

ad she

told me not to

he security team on standby. I want extra surveil

iving me one last reassuring look

ing in front of me, his presence filling the

y," he said quietly

me," I admitted. "I'm

ine, and something soften

aid. "But until I do.

the weight of them settled dee

, unable to loo

ka

nd started to turn away-then pa

il

es

d, "you're my wife. And

pulled the air

ffect

roma

in something dangero

dding, I wondered whether the real

n I had ju