pte

erupted after Don Flores opened fire on them. The silence inside the car was broken

er several times, hi

hout hesitation. If Don Flores was a businessman, how had he learned to handle a weapon so

spian finally asked. "Would he actual

ting her nail and

me us with open arms?" she snapped. "And don't act as if you're innocent. If y

a short laugh an

I was interviewing women for a bride. Every woman who came in was wearing a

d everything instead of rushin

igned

hing happened

the chance

fended by his attempt to

I won't pretend I have no responsibility for it. But that doesn't mean

smile fade

d toward the

can choose from a lineup? You don't even know the women you were interviewing

time for a r

n't get

ot that

d as though finding a wife is no

d his grip on th

ued before he

hat she likes, what she hates, what kind of life she wants. You can't jus

ask for

ask to becom

ced him fo

he was exhausted from arguing with him, but she wasn'

he car slowed and turn

Instead, she found herself staring at a mansion far gra

ained gardens. The driveway stretched toward an impressive en

blin

her one of Ca

ian stepped out. He walke

r seat for a moment,

doing here? W

many questions.

not an

"We're visiting

nally ste

es this man owned. His first house had already been impressive, but

lked toward the entrance, "I don't have time for love. It's

e him a bi

you needed something from her. And when you no

er sai

age as if it were a tempo

ting words

plain yo

instead of answering, he co

shook h

diot. He really

owed him

ive, from the elegant furniture to the decorative pieces displayed throughout the ma

tually lived in all these places or

spend his money on?" she muttered. "H

d for him, she realiz

uth fe

ught me here and t

wander around touching expensive things. If she accidentally broke som

ar the main living are

al framed photographs on th

er of a large family group. Adults stood behind

ily portrait spannin

d closer to

e his grandparen

ooked considerably younger in the photograph, and he

as a child. Had he always been so serious and bos

ture when something hard and p

na f

ordered behind her. "Who are you,

tely raised

s just looking a

? Is that what spies

not a

pressed more firm

a swa

ht her into his grandfather's mansion and then left her al

irst stranger I've caught inside this house. The others claimed they

ne se

you get past

dson broug

gave a ske

on? Which

an San

approaching, followe

and

gainst her sid

. She waited until she heard Caspian

d between her and

an demanded, frowning. "Why

ed his cane and l

anding in front of our family photographs without an

guest? The woma

Davina, his expressi

een unusually suspicious because of everythi

stared

acked him o

ndfather's mansion, you're asking w

ood comple

of his family. Most people were careful around him, but Davina see

an accusing

s standing here minding my own business, and sudde

n stared at th

urst into

s stomach, while Caspian slowly turned to

pian muttered. "You might lau

man only lau

e the day someone would hit you on the head

anger f

was still standing there. Embarrassed, she l

the spot where

enjoyin

grandfather ans

s cane beside him. Caspian sat opposite him,

he cane, noticin

at you pressed

n smiled i

dn't it? You s

have simply aske

have answered w

. She was already dealing with one impossible man. She di

leaned

enemy? You've already surrounded this property with

have nothing to do with friendship." His grandfather's cheerful exp

. Whatever had happened over the past few months clear

returned his at

e would have run away screaming. You stayed long enough to

lanced a

eserv

urst into another

an si

to the reason I b

raightened in his seat. "No

ered without

s my

ghter s

ather star

illow and threw it stra

d you ju

the pillow be

and

you brought into this house and introduced as your wif

y turned tow

ows drew

s he mean

" Caspian

her threw an

ave the nerve t

n dodg

ina is my wife. I'm t

prov

for an explanation. When none came

I s

oked at he

lding her arms a

ried. How many wives have you had bef

ot what h

hat hap

ed back, clearly enj

job. Usually, by this point, the women are already pre

as meeting my husband's grandfather. Now I'm finding out that he ha

n nodded t

g, Caspian. Is s

ot numbe

number

and

uckled and tur

s future bride. Every time, I thought he had finally found someon

aspian, her expres

hat t

ubbed his

here's an e

expl

dfather, who was now w

n let out a fru

re before were paid actresses. They weren't

a bli

actr

es

our brides just to convince your gr

the arra

ink that so

don't. But I

finally found a woman who

r burst into l

e him a mur

pa, pl

idn't say

e to. Your fac

eir marriage. Caspian had treated finding a wife like a business transaction, and no

which part irr

age contract," the

y from the folder he had broug

ead it y

it carefully. He checked the names, the signatures

ng moment,

be damned.

," Caspian said irri

oked at Davina wit

eally are

na s

rtuna

d her. "Did you have

refer that I

ed a marriage with a man who had once hired women to play the role of his bride. Even if those earlier ar

d directl

arranging fake marriages, perhaps you

expression

vin

to love. Now I find out you've been bringing women here to play

didn't have an i

k a steady

ements. I want to understand what this marriage means, what you e

amusement faded

ward, resting his

to understand something. Our marriage is real. I won'

be happy just because

hem stared a

om one to the other befor

ver expected you to bring home someone who might

urned to

od lawyer, I'd appreci

at her for a moment

d his eyes in

ed that keeping her as his wife might prove far more complicate