ck into Blackwood Tower, the facade of

ls as the penthouse door clicked shut behind them. The moment h

e that Liam and Ava woul

lazily onto the sleek leather couch. He moved with delibera

se?" His voice held

"That wasn't a surprise." She f

poured himself a glass of wh

. The city lights cast fragmented reflections

ady to kill you

glass, watching her with undisguised

a sharp loo

calculating. She's not worried

ned. "And w

his gaze dark and unreadable. "

hill through her,

angerous. Unshakable. The kind of ma

as smart enough t

nsidered that maybe Adrian ha

uld press further

lass down, stepping toward her. T

an eyebrow. "W

are feet, then back up to meet her ey

it-low, deliberate, approving-se

tending to be the perfect fiancée

d, considering her. "

ed. "Diff

ore, you were soft. Now?" His gaze assessed her, linger

allowed.

gain-studying her

ll, three years in priso

slightly. "It shoul

ne made her pause.

d, but he steppe

i

didn't have the patience for

red, brushing past hi

ched the hallway, h

air

an instant, he w

atching as Adrian caged her in, his

lse sk

ing her, but he

alone was e

nto hers, dark and unr

lowed. "

s before snapping back up. "O

ply, her nails digg

ting her.

ed her-she w

r chin. "Then you should b

gaze flickering with

e stepp

ight,

ike that,

her br

letely u

ext M

oke up i

a contract marriage

had to keep pl

o

ad spent the entire damn night

That was

en, Adrian was already there-reading the morning

ght invading her space and m

sipped his coffee, dressed in yet

ed. "You're

rim of his cup. "And y

hed into fists.

could reply, h

reen, his expression

he s

ve a p

d. "What kin

's jaw

made his

t in t

stomach t

was making a move, it meant one thing-h

he do?"

around his phone. "He's leveraging the med

He's trying to make it seem l

yes darken

his screen

e made her

WHO SEDUCED TWO POWERFUL M

of anger surg

er, painting her as a woman who jumped from one pow

to discredit her, to turn public opinion against her be

lculated.

m was taking thi

clenched. "Th

ugh her anger. "This is

gaze. "Then

ghtly, approval fli

n let's remind Liam Carte

ad officia

Cl

re than re