ow, her fingers digging into the expensive leather upholstery. This wasn't a home. It was a fortress of glass and cold stone, perched on a hill like it was looking down on th

e didn't offer her a hand. He didn't even look at her as he stepped out of the SUV, a

chill that went straight to her bones. She looked down at her dress-the silk was stained, th

situation finally clawing at her throat. "I have nothin

tue than a man. "You have me," he said, and for a second, the words sounded like a promise. Then he added, "And as long as you belong to me,

rough her exhaustion. "I am not a piece of furniture you bought at an auctio

hose gates, you are a scandal. You are the girl who cheated on her fiancé with the rival CEO. Inside these gates, you are the future

of practiced neutrality. She bowed slightly, her eyes f

a commanded before walking past them both into the house, his mind al

. Too white. The floors were polished to such a high shine that she could see her own

home. It had floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a sprawling garden

epare a bath," Bi

church right now? Was he telling the guests that his bride was a whore? She thought about Intan, probably sitting in their living

ht. It was a hot, pulsing thing in her chest,

on her skin-faint bruises on her arms where Arga had held her, and the invisible ones that hurt much more. She scrubbed he

ng on the bed. It was deep emerald green, modest but obscenely ex

out waiting for an answer. He had changed into a fresh

said, tossing a

nuptial Agreement. Non-Disclosu

inimum of two years. Clause 7: No public displays of affection unless requested for media purposes. Clau

ga said, leaning ag

. "You're so afraid of the truth, aren't you? You're a billionaire, a genius, a 'self-made man,'

they were dark with a simmering fury. "I told you, I was drugged. You think I wanted this? You think I wanted to tie my nam

s tell the truth together. We can take

ls. If we tell the truth, my company's value drops forty percent by noon. My father will use it as an excuse to kick me ou

ra. Or walk out that gate right now with

n he slammed the door. She thought about the way Dion had looke

d her name in jagged, angry s

n at his feet. "You own me. I hope

. It will be small, private, but loud enough for the press to hear. Until then, sta

f nausea. "They don't want a rec

magine. Your father will be singing your praises by tomorrow

her for a textile factory. Her sister had sold her fo

he said, her voice hollo

eshold. "Welcome to the real world, Zara. It's a lot

. It was beautiful, but it felt like a shroud. She picked up the new phone. Her f

rched for her own name. The he

ed: Zara Marligh, Fian

Why the Wedding of the Y

tale. She scrolled down and saw a photo of Intan, posted an hour ago. It was a selfie of her si

wall. It didn't break, but the

pered to the shadows. "I'm going to take

y home, and when he was, he ignored her. He was a ghost in his own house, a ma

to her room. He didn't knock this time. He looked disheveled,

ed, sitting on th

the moon. "I don't drink anymore. Not aft

crossing his face before he masked it wi

Arga? Come to check

n love. Or at least, like we don't want to strangle each other." He looke

ded my sister loved me. I pretended my father was a good man. I pretended Dion

proached. The scent of woodsmoke and expensive cologne filled her

a low rumble. "Maybe I am. But in this city, m

ght he was going to touch her, and her heart skipped a beat-not out of f

nd of hair behind her ear

as a queen, Zara. Wear the crown

, but Zara called

sto

have paid off a hundred girls to play this part.

ause," he said softly, "you're the only one who looks at me and see

ore she cou

t out. She thought about his words. He was tired. The billionair

't afford. Tomorrow, she would walk down the aisle and swear a lie to a man she h

ark glass. Her eyes were hard now. Th

begin, Arga,"

born in a hotel room and sealed in blood. Bi Inah brought in the dress-a si

on armor. She didn't wear a veil. She wanted to s

the city. There were no friends. No family-except for Arga's par

o the foyer of the c

eyes, acting the part of the emotional mother of the bride. And Intan... Intan was

e Intan s

hitched. Why

in his eyes. Or maybe it was just greed. Now that she was marryi

d sliding firmly around her waist

pered in her ear. "The

e flashes of the paparazzi outside were

se of detachment. She heard the words, but they didn't mean

id, his voice s

Zara. "And do you, Zara

saw Intan's eyes, narrow and jealous. She saw

," sh

felt lik

husband and wife. You

d pressed his lips to hers. It wasn't a soft kiss. It w

ching his lapels. If she was going to be a villain in this

as Mr. and Mrs. Wijaya, the cro

ue you've been dating

el to be part of the most po

d her with his body, usherin

She didn't smile. She just looked at her sister wit

urned. Arga loosened his tie an

said. "Now the r

, wiping the lipst

need to show them that we're untouchable. If anyone asks about the hotel,

aid. "But I have my ow

ne eye. "And

talk to B

angerous. He's the one who set us

angerous level. "Let him see exactly what he created. You w

had seen in the mirror every morning for the last five years. He realized then that he

But if you slip up

, looking out at the rainy streets of Ja

jaya sitting side by side, miles apart in spirit but bou

world would see the new Zara. And t

ound in the hotel. She had asked Bi Inah to find the matching one.

spered to herself. "The mo