readbare living room, clutching a chipped ceramic mug, watching the thin morning sunlight stripe the worn carpet. I was still in th

ed the

lished black wool and severe professionalism. He was the dr

is gaze, however, didn't register me. It registered the state of my home. "I am

behind the Mercedes, and two women emerged, carrying garment bags

. "I am Celeste, Madame. The schedule is tight. We must have you ready for Mr.

light? Look, this is my home, not a photo s

mped room with an air of profound offense. "Nonsense. The kitch

homework and share watery soup, was suddenly covered in high-definition lighting rigs, silver mirrors, and an impossible array of cos

my mug. "I feel like I'm watching an

bag. Racks of clothing appeared, seemingly from nowhere, silks, cashmeres, sharp wool suits, all in muted, ex

ful," I said, dripping sarcasm that was entirely lost on the two professio

ow. "Madame, Mr. Conti is a man of impeccable taste. You must look the part. You are the partner

ulously transform my face, smoothing away the dark circles that were the ba

ed. I am currently being polished li

ly with a series of f

MANOR YET? HOW DOES THE CLOTHING LOOK?

Mia. I'm still at the house, but it's unrecognizable. They brought enough haute couture to clothe a small na

on, is paid for by the loss of my old life, but bought for the gain of Leo's. T

essed. "Did you talk

le operation is designed to make me feel small, disposable, and utterly reliant on him. He doesn't even have to look at me to control m

ace, Elara. Do you s

ook like a stranger. I look like a woman who has never worried about a co-pay or a late bill. She is beautiful, Mia. But she's not me. I'm scared, M

k," Mia said fiercely. "Stop panicking. You are the most resilient person I know. And look, you already got

ise still vivid. "But when he grabbed my arm last night, there was this surge. I hated him, but I was aware of him, of his strength. And when he was talking about the contract kiss... there was

ara. He is a stunning package with a rotten core. You

name a grounding anchor

lled away, examining her handiwork

oject authority," Celeste murmured

legant. I changed behind a makeshift screen, the silk fabric cool against my skin.

of my neck, the proximity was somehow. She was simply doing her job, but in this forced intimacy, wearing these clothes, I felt a sharp,

stranger. She had the eyes of Elara Vance, still tired, still holding sorrow,

announced, packing up her station wi

rrings and a simple gold wedding band. "The ring, Mrs. Conti. And the e

e ten million dollar lie. I slipped it onto my finger. It fit perfectl

ghtly on the worn floorboards, a sound that was utterly foreign in this

iliar wall where Leo had measured his height every six

The Manor awaits, Mrs. Conti. We

air. Goodbye, Elara Vance. Hello, Elara Conti. I stepped

e and the heavy shadow of debt behind, all my c

benevolent, perceptive man who believed in love, the man I had