er th

ew

: Ada

use door. "Welcome to your new home," he said in a smoot

ze. The walls were lined with floor-to-ceiling windows that provided her wi

Her gaze shifted from the glossy marble floors to the high-end furnishin

grinned. With a note of humor in his v

crossed her arms. She was in the midst of excess, even though she had never

mile. "I guess

only for a second. "There's a lot to get

sure I will," she replied, t

until Adrian gestured toward a hallway. "Your room is thi

o overwhelmed to think straight. She followed him dow

was huge plush, inviting, yet still, it seemed impersonal. The soft lighting, the

turning to go, saying, "Get comfort

soon as the door slammed shut behind him. She let herself breathe a

ten herself

king of cutlery on china filling the silence. Adrian's assistant, a well-dressed wo

'll be expected to attend with Mr. Blackwell. There will be photographers, rep

words. Her attention was elsewhere. She was still plagued b

y think you

ent by who

upted her train of th

g but not cruel as he gazed at her. "Just... adjusting,"

in a forceful yet comforting tone. He spoke in the same tone as previously, a

ts. She reminded herself that all of this was fleeting. T

. There was something wrong with it. Adrian had brought her here

tasted anything because her mind was

he main living areas, including the large balcony, the contemporary kitchen, and the open rooms. A door at the en

front of it. She was drawn to it for some reason. Des

he knob when she was ab

n said in a quiet, authoritative

standing at the end of the hall, his eyes blank and his posture

ew serious. In a chilly and decisive tone, he

s back. Something, somethi

curiosity was burning in her che

or before returning to her, his jaw

ounded in her chest. This area was more complex tha

"Don't go near it again." She had never seen him like this b

ared at him. She wanted to fight and ask more ques

y racing, she nodded. What was behi

d in the quiet as he turned an

she stayed there for a while with h

eventually withdrew her hand and turned

he had believed that living here with Adrian would mark the beginning of a new life, one i

ough she was delving furthe

on the nightstand. Glancing at the screen,

ication from an

o you believ

reath. Who was this individ

he gazed at the screen. What was going

answer, the phone

than you belie

ge sunk into her head, the room felt like it was closing in on her. She wasn't merely a vic