ing into another world-one where power, wealth, and beauty collided. As we arrived, the sound of laughter and clinking glasses filled the

in as Damien's wife. But the moment I stepped out of the car, I felt like a fraud. I

e fixed on the road ahead, lost in thoughts I couldn't fathom. It made me wond

hillingly polite smile. "Let's not keep the guests waiting,"

he crowd seemed to turn in unison, like I was the centerpiece of some elaborate performance. My

ng pleasantries, moving with the smooth confidence of someone who was born to command a room. And I, as

the tension in my shoulders wouldn't go away. I felt like

standing next to us. She was tall, with sharp features and a

inued, smiling warmly but with an edge that didn't q

ocial niceties. "It's a pleasure to meet you

ing as he introduced us. "This is Vanessa Donovan

ing me. "I hope you're enjoying the evening, Mrs. Blackwell. It must be quit

d myself to nod, the smile never wavering. "Yes, it's defini

ckwell has high expectations for you," she said, her voice light, but I could hear the

weakness. I was no longer just a woman who had to answer to her

around my waist. "Vanessa," he said smoothly, "we'll catch u

essa back off with a tight-lipped smile. She nodd

quickening. "What was that about

ssion that I had grown so used to. "People like Vanessa like to test boundaries," he said, his v

tion flaring. "But don't act like this is all just a game. Yo

response. His lips curled into something that almost resembled a smile. "I don't need reminding of that, Sienna.

d us-a well-dressed man in his late forties, with dark hair pepper

ng a handshake. "It's goo

t was all for show. "Victor, always a pleasure," he replied, h

overly strong. "It's an honor to meet you,

m, but I smiled, doing my best to appear

game. The more I listened to Damien, the more I realized how little of this world had anything to do with me. It wasn't about what I wa

r pawn in his careful

red, my smile starting to feel like it belonged to someone else. I could f

stepped out into the cool night air, I realized that the real work was only just beginning. The marr

ong could I k

ce the gala ended, Damien's silence pressing in on me like a heavy fog. We had slipped past the reporter

on the road ahead, his posture rigid as though he were carrying the weight of an invisible burden. The same

I wa

ore obvious-this marriage wasn't about partnership, it wasn't about mutual respect. It was a carefully orchestrated show

ay of the sleek, modern house he called home. "You did well t

me since the gala. "Did I? Because I felt like a puppet

are, Sienna. A piece on the chess

back the words that burned on my tongue. "And yo

moment before he spoke again, his voice colder. "You si

s voice cutting deeper than I expected. "I didn't

st, yet it was just a few feet. I wanted to shout, to demand answers, but I stayed silent.

house was as cold and sterile as ever, the walls lined with modern art and sleek furnitur

me for a moment before he spoke again. "You should rest. W

him. I was supposed to smile, nod, and look perfe

of it all settled on my shoulders. I hadn't asked for any of this. I hadn't wanted it. But here I was, trapped in

ldn't last long. The same cold feeling that had been in the car lingered in the room w

at the full-length mirror across the room. For a moment, I saw the reflecti

and aspirations-felt like someone

. Not in this house.

the ceiling. Was this all worth i

igned up for this. But I had no choice now. I was tied to Damien Blackwell, and

me out of my thoughts. My heart skipped

t, though my voice wav

sence filling the room like a shadow. He didn't speak righ

ool, but there was something almost imperceptible

ention. Was this just another part of his co

up straighter, instinctively pu

as always in control-always. But right now, there was something in his eyes that I couldn't quite place.

that maybe there was some shred of empathy hidden beneath the cold exterior. But I cou

but firm. "Are you here to check on your investmen

fixed on mine. For a moment, he just stood there, the silence stretching between us

but there was a strange intensity in it. "And you're not th

st time, I saw a crack in his perfect facade. But I w

ine. "Get some rest, Sienna," he said, his vo

clicking shut behind him. I sat in the silence,

smiles, and unspoken truths? The cracks in the facade were startin