Her thumb pushed down on the

her ear. Her heart hammer

ne rang

ai

xhaustion. In the background, Kaia could hear

s tight. "Jaxson," she said. Her v

rning pages sto

" Jaxson asked. His tone dropped an

y. "The house is beautiful.

speaker. The sound sent a sudden ru

aid smoothly, "then you wouldn't

her free hand, twisting the f

ep in the guest roo

sil

wo seconds. T

line like a physical weight pressing

ill the void. "My schedule is terrible. I don't want to wake

her end of the line. He knew she was lying. He

was completely flat. "Sleep w

lightly. She had prepared a dozen

voice filled with disbelief. "What

ut anyone's opinion," Jaxson said. His voice har

ving her freedom, or was he telling her he was so indifferent to this sham marriage that she could do whatever she wanted? The th

er?" Jaxson asked, abruptl

tired from unpacking.

and furious. "Do not play games with your health. Go down

imand. "Okay," she mumbled, soun

e let out a heavy sigh. "I have a dinner meeting

," Kaia sa

letting out a massive breath. The tension drained out

She stripped off her clothes and pulled

y sconces cast a dim, amber glow. The c

tepped lightly on the balls of her feet, not

en in the dark. She flicked on a single,

acked with wagyu beef and truffles, but she bypassed all of

turned on the sink, the water rushing loudly as she wash

ade against the cutting board. She didn't hear the