se

o more room for shock, just a cold, relentless clarity. I didn't cry anymore. I could

ar jingle of keys

ngle hair out of place. No tell-tale signs of a night spent in another woman' s bed, no lingering

thai. And I picked up those new architectural magazines you wa

" His brow furrowed with what looked like genuine co

t it. His hand hung in the air, then dropped awkwardly. A flicker of something crossed his face-

Elias?" I asked, my voice flat, devoid of

led out his phone. "Did I miss something? My phone was on silent during my 'l

notification from PeachyKeen.

rrassing messages from last night. Daddy's so w

slightly rumpled, sitting on a bed. My stomach felt hollow, s

, ready to crack. I looked at Elias, still meticulously prete

ripping with sarcasm I knew he wouldn't catch. "

his arms, holding me tight. His chin rested on the top of my head, his voice soft, gentle. "Y

s scent familiar. But all I fe

"You're my everything. My queen." He pressed a kiss to my hair. "I feel so guilty sometimes, working so much. But it's all for u

tting him hold me, letting him weave his web

y brick, dream by dream. There were times when he worked three jobs just to pay our rent, his eyes burning with ambition. "I'll make sure you neve

ow long would he have let me live in this gilded cage of lies, a pathetic fool? I probably would have j

ang, a sharp,

could that be?" he muttered, already walking toward

ed into the living room. "Da

tories. Elias froze for a fraction of a second, then quickly mumbled,

equented. "Just a delivery, baby," he said, forcing a casual tone. "My assistant sent them over, s

g. "Is there truly nothing you're withholding from me, Eli