in my ear like

n but whatever you do,

, my fingers gripping the plastic so hard my knuckles tu

lower the phone slowly, my chest heaving as a terrifying wave of dizziness washes over me. My sister is out there somewhere, terrified, warning me away

opping into a dangerous, low rumble as he

her told me we would lose everything if I didn't marry Adrian to save the family business. Celeste just told me our father cannot be trusted. And A

rs spill over my eyelashes. "The business deal, the merger, my father's desper

ng tightly, but he doesn't deny it immediately. That

I don't care about his security guards. I don't care about the private elevator code. I need a

head. The grand foyer is quiet, smelling faintly of polished wood and expensive flowers. I march straight

d, his gray hair slightly messy. But the second he sees me standing in the

oing here? You should be at home with your husband. Do

is desk and slamming my hands onto the polished wood. "Celeste called me.

ster is a coward! She abandoned this family when we needed her most, and now she is spinning lies to save her own skin! You

knew! He knew who I was before the wedding! You and Adrian arranged a b

ved hundreds of jobs, Elena! And you are throwing a childish tantrum over a billionaire husband who treats you

To my father, I was never a daughter, I was just a spare part i

k into the small family archive room down the hall, knowing my father keeps copies of every corporate contract and legal agreement locked

, and legal clauses. Most of it is a blur of corporate terms, but near the back, a spe

ntrolling shares of Marlowe Enterprises giving him absolute voting power over my father's entire empire. But there is more. Buried at the bottom in bold print is

ned away his entire company, betting everything on a le

or bedtime

eaks the heavy silenc

s leaning casually against the doorframe, his dark eyes fixed on the scatter

't try to hide the papers. I look up at him, my vo

n you married me yesterday... you knew about this clause. You knew my father

frame and takes a slow, deliberate step into

he says

nto. I back away from him, shaking my head as fresh tears fall. "You monster. You used my fat

he doorway. He reaches out, his warm fingers gently catching

ispers, his voice low and rich, filled with a su

up to rest lightly against the small of my b

Adrian murmurs, his lips brushing dangerously close to my ear. "The secret you shoul