. He barely spoke to me all morning, just watchin

he tenth time. "Just a year. And

of my bedroom. "Sure. I'll just drop by the b

my suitcase closed. "I

d in a way that reminded me painfully of Lu

his words stung because they held a grain of

ger, Jace was just as haunted by ou

e everything you find

n he didn't pull away this time. "We're

ved right on time: C

ily. Vincent's assistant arranged for grocery deliveries. The rent is paid for

t a kid

ust focus on school and staying out

he pulled away. "Just be careful. Rich peo

g of Lucien's col

nhattan, anxiety knotted my stomach. I was about to move in with a

hattan, a gleaming tower of glass and steel that disappeared in

ters. Mr. Devereux

t required both a key card and fingerprint scan. The doors clos

entire apartment. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a breathtaking view of Central Park and the c

g from a hallway. "Mr. Devereux is in me

rete, the furniture all clean lines and neutral colors. It looked like

ointed out the kitchen (all stainless steel and marble), the dining area (with a table that c

en?" I asked, noticing how

eux prefers his privacy. The staff m

d her down a hallway lined with w

h there," she said, gesturing to a closed door. "Yo

Anything else I'm not all

eux values his routines and privacy. You'll fin

asn't surprised, but something

lled with leather-bound books that looked untouched. Fina

Chen said, pushi

n fireplace, a massive bed draped in cream-colored linens, a walk-in closet a

too much," I

cked her tablet. "Your things will be unpacked while we're out. We have a

ly overwhelmed. "Could

dded. "Five minutes. I

rter. This wasn't real. None of it was real. In two days, I would marry a man who co

eux family. Access to information ab

d my shoulders, and headed back t

nt sheath of ivory silk-was altered to fit perfectly. My hair was styled and restyled until th

red after the third trial look. "C

a stranger in expensive clothes with perfectly styled hair

ormed me. "Mr. Devereux usually dines in his o

tightened

sharp." With that, she left

us marble shower with its multiple jets, then stood in front of the closet, overwhelmed by c

e window with a glass of amber liquid in his hand. He'd changed from his business suit to dark pant

coolly. "You're punctu

aking the seat a uniformed s

the table, leaving an empt

d my glass. The staff moved silently around

ettled in," Lucien sai

u for the... a

to mine. "Did y

t," I admitted. "This isn't

aking a sip of his

minutes. The food was exquis

sed," Lucien said abruptly. "There a

lfway to my mout

side his plate and slid a d

have no access to his personal financial accounts. I would maintain my own separate bank account for my allowance. I would n

: We would maintain separate bedrooms. There

n unreadable. "Did you think I would expect those.

estly. "Your grandfather wasn't

Wynters. I have no interest in a wife-fake or otherwise. This arrangement is purely t

standing," I said, fighti

d toward the con

like to read it mo

all means." He checked his watch. "You have until t

to think of something-anything-to say, but eve

t don't feel obligated to join me. In fact, it's probably better if you don't." He paused.

" I said

then left with

ounded by luxury that felt more like a cage than a home. The co

ine carefully, looking for traps or loopholes, but it seemed s

dy for bed, I realized this would be my life now-beautiful surroundings, exquisite meals, an

ith a cold, arrogant billionaire who thought of me as a gold-digger. But as I lay

r my phone to call him, then hesitated. What would I say? That my future husband co

le text: Settled in. M

almost instan

Jace's safety, of the financial security this marriage would provide. And deeper than that, th

year of living with a man wh

en's cold blue gaze, felt the weight of his disdain. In two days, I would become Mrs. Devereux in

s about my father. Secrets worth uncovering

I would be the perfect wife in public. But privately, I would find answers. About my father. About Vinc

marriage, but it couldn't stop