subtlety-it shouted luxury from every c

pearls, was the crown jewel of the ceremony. Paige had fantasized a

gths to maintain appearances. They'd put together five hundred million dollars as a wedding gift, aiming to marry Pai

ested on Elliana's body. Kiara, Darin, and Paige could only watch as everything they

r expression neutral. There was no mistaking Cole's reputation-dangerous, decisive, and impossible to predict. She

for any crack in the story. Instead of feeding the frenzy, Cole avoided

disappeared into the clouds. "Mom, is my dream of b

ole won't tolerate being trapped like this. Elliana was shoved int

ige's tears. "You think he'

e, Cole will definitely come back to you. Just hold on to your p

d Cole might arrange a widower scenario, Elliana, with he

as cold-blooded, even cruel. He was the kind of man who crushed anyone who dared stand in his way. Those w

Once they stepped into the bedroom, Elliana sa

ed onto the couch. His eyes locked on her-intense, cli

ten years. But now, beneath the soft veil concealing her face, she looked ethereal in th

fire that killed her mother and melted her own face. Some called her cursed. Other

She was shrewd. Whatever her game was, she played it well. When Paige lunged at her earlier, Elliana had slipped behind him with uncanny ease. Othe

is name got locked in with hers in a marriage. Someone had pulled strings behind the curt

. Why so quiet now?" Cole's tone sl

ore she could stop it. "It's not like I planned to

iana understood that fast. A gentle smile here, the right words

lier, she'd called him "darling" in front of Paige like it was the most natural thing in the world. There h

didn't expect him to. She just needed

her head when Cole rose without warning and cro

nd swept her into his arms befor

ut of a fairytale made her heart lurch.

corners of his mouth. "Tell me-what do you suppose

the bed, his body closing the space betw

er completely, and she went still. With her horrible wig