ra asked one of her attendants a while

baritone voice tea

n standing behind her was the mos

only now, standing before her in flesh and blood. She realized how poorly those digi

cold grey eyes that seemed to see straight through her. He was dressed

ad supposedly spent two years in a cell. His tall, broad frame screamed pow

?" she asked

ant smirk tugged at the corner

... is m

cocktail of pure, unadulterated fear and a sudden, violent spa

s, cold money, influence, status, but not this. Not a

He always had this effect on people, especially women. Still, t

ontrary, Rivera Royce was strikingly beautiful. She was what people descr

usually dealt with. He's got a pretty wife and that would look good on

ve of his hand, then casually took the seat

have a thousand que

our first time meeting, despite the fact that we've been married

t. It was almost insulting how he dismissed her before even heari

is best friend, but he was obviously more obnoxious than L

Rivera stubbornly maintained, a

of our marriage. I figured that not many people knew that. I won'

"You don't seem like the type to do th

her quietly bef

marry at the time, but the situation required it and I trusted my fa

time and Rivera was relieved that

ve told me the whole truth. Instead, you deceived me. You handed me to your best frien

anything." His arrogant tone had retur

you had completely bought my

inches from hers. The scent of him, something expensive

t?" he said soft

rgot her anger. His gaze was intense and she felt hers

money to sweep things under the carpet, he was using

tanding up and stepping back. She

ateful for that. But you had no right to strip me of my choice. You should have to

be bought, who wouldn't have the social standing to cause a scandal,

f girl. Her background may be humb

when she was angry. The anger was a contrast to his expectations of her reactions when they would meet

t, he stood up and

ere marriage was the only thing t

out how it benefited you. Wha

ies out of him, especially since he thin

to do with you than y

you talk

but trust me, you won'

ting. "I think I've earned the right t

become my accomplice. He leaned in, his lips hovering just an inch from hers, th