ndows, painting the room in shades of gold, but her heart was ice. She lay still, her eyes tracing the ceiling as memories of the previous ni

ord, had been a weapon, and she

t made her skin crawl. "Good morning, darling," he murmured, his voice warm, almost

ough the mask now-the calculated sweetness, the pretense of devotion. He believed her the same naive Eleanor,

smile a perfect imitation of the adoring wife s

ad. "You always do." He rolled out of bed, humming as he headed

otting her ruin. She could still hear his voice from that night a year from now, cold and mocking as she bled out: "You were merely collateral." Her ja

re, its rich fabric catching the light. It had served its purpose, transforming her from a shadow into a force, but it was also

nged to

tossed the dress onto the flames. The fabric caught instantly, green silk curling and blackening as the fire consumed it. She wa

the flames had burned away a piece of the old Eleanor. She was no longer the wo

ht! 😘 Eleanor's lip curled. Marianne's faux sweetness was as transparent as Cedric's now, but she'd play along-for now. She typed

ssed in a tailored suit, his hair damp from the shower. "What's

e said lightly, brushing past him

grabbed his briefcase, pausing to kiss her cheek. "I've got me

e said, her smi

ne of the last you'll have wit

father's company accounts. The numbers were subtle, easy to miss unless you knew what to look for, but they painted a clear picture: Cedric had been funneling millions into o

ness partner, a man Cedric had pushed out of the company after their marriage. Julian was sharp, ruthless, and-most importantly-

a line, pulling her deeper into a game where one misstep could ruin her.

need to talk. Discreetl

er save her or destroy her. Julian wasn't just a business rival; he was a wildcard, a man with his own motives and a reputation for playing dir

he dress reduced to ash. Eleanor took a deep

e spiked as Julian's name flashed on the screen.

n flooding her veins. The game had just go

e world she was about to upend. Cedric and Marianne thought they held all the cards, but they were wrong.

contin