nding voice echoing from the grand staircase. His jaw tightened

der his breath, his gray eyes fl

ed, blinked her deep blue eyes in utter bewilderment. Her brows furrow

s lips. He leaned down slightly, his shadow consuming her light as he raised a

rne," Vivienne whispered back, her independent

ore turning on his heel and striding out of the master suite. Closing the heavy double doors firmly

egant elderly woman dressed in a premium silk saree, leaning on a silver-handled wooden cane. It was Lady Catherine Thorne, the fierce matriarch of the Thorne family. She was

to her, extending his arms to offer a rare, respectful emb

ith lightning-fast reflexes that completely defied her age, she reached out a

owering six-foot-two frame involuntarily

his ear another sharp tug. "You flew away from the hotel with your new bride without

is cold corporate mask completely slippi

p flick. "There is a poor old lady waiting back at the estate just dying to see her new granddaughte

the situation at the hotel ballroom-" Ethan tri

ly, turning around and marching straight toward the grand staircase with her cane clicking sharp

the way up the carpeted hallway, his voice dropping into a tight, guarded register. "Grandmother, wait. Stop. She is inju

oor in this empire remains locked to me," Catherin

ite, she gripped the gold handles and pushed them

ped past the threshold, the

the night and the throbbing pain in her bandaged ankle, Vivienne had completely passed out. Her dark hair was splayed across the white pillows, her long eyel

ded over the room. Slowly, the matriarch turned around, walked right back out i

broad chest. Before he could say a single word, Catherine raised

wa

dmother,

or as she raised the cane again, threatening his upper arm. "You absolute idiot! You know i

from the formidable cane. "Grandmother, no! Stop hitti

idiot, Ethan! How can you just bring a random girl into this house? Look at her! She looks like a fragile doll! She could be ab

ndmo

a sudden, terrifying drop in temperature. His piercing gray orbs darkened complete

ority, his chest heaving slightly as he locked eyes with the matr

wa

ting blow that would have made any grown man flinch, but Ethan stood perfectly rigid. His gray eyes didn

hallow as she glared up at him, her fingers tightening around her cane. "

o a deadly quiet, unshakable register. "I am standing with my wife. That is exactly

se frustration crossed her elegant, wrinkled face. She pointed an index finger at his chest, her voice trembling. "

Ethan murmured, his expre

ld matriarch let out a heavy, defeated sigh. The fiery anger in her eyes dissolved, replaced by

nerable whisper of a grandmother who just wanted to protect her family. "Where on earth did you fin

in his grandmother's eyes. He knew he couldn't keep her in the dark forever.

than spok

toward the private terrace balcony at the end of the wing. He opened the glass doors, letting the cool, cr

as seated comfortably against the cool breeze. Once she was settled, the ruthless, un

his knees right

rried face. He rested his large hands on her lap, his piercing gra

is voice gravelly and smooth in the quiet night. "I a