ll-length mirror, heart pound

wn her legs like water. The crystal heels sparkled beneath the hem, barely visible but impossi

ed... ex

rf

e she didn'

arely a word. But Leah had caught the way the woman studied her, like she was

in Xavier Lu's world of sharp suits

of cameras, pretending to be his wife in every way that mattered.

f them could

ct burned

tic invo

loving coupl

on is pa

haled

s, Leah. Just

ell chime

t, fingers tighteni

ned the door

hair was slicked back, and the sharp line of his jaw could have cut glass.

, neither of

ly, his voi

re re

t. Not even an

a f

to the hallway,

e I'm no

me," Xavier said,

ated, the

nts precise. He led her to the private elevator,

ed the urge

a?" she asked, br

onight's at the Kingwood Mansion. Art auction, c

ked. "Vu

irk. "They circle anything that

laugh. "And which

really looked. "Neit

eath c

but the way he said it. W

erself: This i

dream she never asked to enter. When they arrived at the estate

ned to her

Speak only if spoken

t," sh

en added, "Yo

. But it wasn'

and they stepped into th

tepped out of the car. The cameras erupted the moment Xavier appe

ere, who's the

ife? When did y

pect a pre

gnored t

ascended the marble steps to the mansion's gran

ing like starlight, and a sea of designer gowns and tailored tuxedos. A string quartet pla

s not h

d not be swa

s breath brushing her e

t his gaze with a soft, practiced smile. His a

owd with elegant detachme

is

was engaged

pretty.

be tem

en as the sting of judgment p

ay where a tall man with graying temp

u finally brought a plus-one.

h, this is Richard Lian inve

cause I ask the questions

is is the mysterious wife. Yo

nd, playing the role

imagine the gossip columns

" Xavier said curtly

bli

d a brow, amu

Xavier glanced at

etly. "I've been pract

him. "You'll need it. The rea

tists. Leah stood at his side, poised and silent, aware of every eye on her

ice king finally

tur

that hugged her like sin approached with a glass

," Xavier

stomach

x-fia

e she'd

turned sharp. "You didn't tell me you were marri

ing you an announc

ignoring him. "Leah, is

ah said, her tone calm. "Ju

ile faltered.

gainst Leah's back an inte

ndra

ering. "Enjoy the eveni

she disappeared

slowly. "She'

Xavier said. "Do

engag

You handled it better th

people who think they're

brow crease but before he could speak, a tap on the

at the base of th

evening. We'll now begin the charity auction. All pro

applaus

own. "We should

n easel near the front, covered with a si

that?" s

s. A surprise piece fr

te yachts, luxury getaways. Leah tried to focus, but her pulse

ain

, hau

l bed, her eyes gazing out

breath

w that

as h

she had sold to pay

here it was framed, spotlighted, being called a "mast

uldn't

ting bid at ten t

," someo

ent

r, voice barely a wh

r, startled. "Y

t to a broker. I didn't k

ned to the pie

rd, he raise

sand," the

pted. No on

ol

tared

d you d

o watch strangers own

oat tig

tween them too hon

mmed. The qua

slipped, just

tet transitioned into a waltz. The room buzzed with soft chatter

ffered h

tared

ance?" she ask

d unreadable. "It's ex

ppearance fi

is touch. He led her to the dance floor where other couples had beg

at her waist, the othe

't just a dance. Every movement felt like a performance. Each s

well," he s

. "You soun

d avoid these k

med of me becoming a princess. She made sure I lear

l expec

im. "And what about you?

e a weapon,"

erness in his voi

or a moment, they moved in perfect ha

asy alwa

deeply. "Wh

to misunderstand. "Because you we

t's

esit

anything from me. Not power. Not access.

allowe

afe," she

at her,

ing to rea

usic

, and when they stepped apart, something shifted

terrupted

alled. "Your father

tightened. "I

nod

g air, distance. As she reached the open terrace

stone railing. The estate's gardens st

painting perfect,

she coul

from th

ce star

san

ows in her red gown, like s

tened, spine

eded

ffocating, pretending to

calm. "Is there s

vier may look like the dream but he's carved from ice.

you speak fro

ears trying to warm a man

hands c

older. Temporary. The media will have their story, the investors will see a stab

d her dead

rary and real than p

's smile

d reply, footst

eared, his

re a pr

ing toward him. "Cassa

at Cassandra, who held her chin hig

xhaled

d her. "What

didn't al

dn't

held out his

. Let's

took

that

back wa

Leah started toward the guest roo

ea

tu

t the painting. It deserved to be seen. But not b

him, her voice

ou being k

ated. "I

you

pa

itted. "Maybe I'm not

ile. "Then stop p

eyes

only silence between t

she ste

ight,

ared down t

rs, Xavier Lu was left standi