A

, Olga's PA found me and brough

on. Olga had seemed like a sweet old woman at the banquet

be messed with. Why would she want to see me? Was this one of those sc

didn't know me at all. I was not going to leave un

oice cut through the

n, in his early forties, pointed to the huge c

ted to ask what to expect, but he gestured again, and

reason. Olga had changed from the brocade she had been weari

lready rea

of the table. She stood by the window, staring at

o see me," my voic

in the corner of the room. I sto

from her was enough to send a

if I were going to get the biggest scolding of my life just for sitting on th

sound like a question, but I still nodded anyway. "Okay,

e the

into the cup and handed it over to her. S

he began. Her eyes were on me, but I didn't even dare look he

is nothing against you, but I wanted a woman who could

ys been the right choice. Even though I was the rightful

e. I didn't want to be married to him either, but if it meant I got a choic

eady chosen you. You're the true Sterling blood,

to know that the Sterlings would rather die than give anything they owned t

od wife to su

I bowed my

ashy; just be humble eno

ped her tea, her eyes on me lik

up your past anymore or try to dig it up. We will act like you a

ss to try to argue, as I could already see how steadfast s

ily will only see your worth wh

inally spoke, but my vo

at you are..." she trailed off, her eyes watching me from the rim of th

as worth to her. I swallowed

aved her hand in the air like

t of the chair. I didn't stop until I was out

r for me. She had a warm smile on her face,

ing me to her side. I had no idea what to respond. What

a smile a

nd it's such a shame," she rambled on, still holding ont

ut

family butler prepare Roman's old bedroom for you both," she said,

ke to Roman, a

ut asking me first. When did I ever mean anythi

t ready for that... at least not yet. I already knew on

ge into," I said, trying to fi

a problem for us," she said, as if I were a silly

he door. For some reason, I was curious what the younger R

" she said as she pushed me through the door. "You bo

ht, I let out a true sigh of relief. It felt like I had

even more dangerous than the ballroom ma

lt like the man behind Roman's face. I couldn't help but wonder i

he butler calle

still not used to being called that. I

s, ma'am." He bowed. I took the b

m being on guard the entire day. When I opened the bag, I froze, a

it out, but no matter how hard I tried, it looked like a rope knotted togethe

can't be