stood in the kitchen, waiting for her tea to steep. The silence around h

some of the worst speculation, but public attention remained relentless. E

She didn't want to sound insecure. But insid

le

ce loved enough

d clearly decide

y Xavier's voice had gone quiet when he spo

still had a

houghts. He walked in shirtless, towel drap

to smile.

u o

rring her tea.

y tipped her chin up so she

then asked, "Di

er f

ould take it back

you never fought for her the way you figh

ck, rubbing the towel over his face

he said finally. "Our families liked the idea.

love," she s

agreed. "

ully. "But did you feel s

her then, dar

," he admitted.

aught in h

until I saw you sleeping on that couch, arms crossed

d. "You ki

m. "Maybe. But you didn'

again, hands f

strategic mistake. But you you

touch, her head resti

whispered. "She's

that's why I'm going t

Day Xavie

e file Jonas had pl

he asked, flipping throu

fixer two nights before the

expressio

yer," he said coolly. "Let them hand

erst

l on Leah. Discreet, but effective. I don't want her w

odded.

Jon

ir

now who else she's talki

Mr.

r leaned back in his

mpanies, contracts,

rous: a woman who had carved her way into his hea

burn down anyone who

Blackwood

ing up at the ceiling

family, the pressure of the media, the weight of be

watching her silently f

eeping either,

d a strand of hair behind her e

e admitted. "Everythi

, pulling her gen

n," he murmured. "Just us. Jus

nst his chest. His heart

to be a CEO's wi

e a CEO's wife," he

y. "That sounds e

to change. Not for the media. N

ide under the covers fo

ide wit

ed into

time in days, slee

a fresh storm this one not o

her phone in hand, the screen glowing

ant Wife A Gold Digge

e press conference, but a shot from over a year ago. She was outside a women'

aptio

iations. Is she the future First Lady of Black

, her hands trembling.

t. Not about the shelter. Not about her ex. Not

Not the nights she spent hiding from creditors, or working tw

th was someone e

ea

en doorway, dressed in his crisp suit, p

it," she

d

for anger. Judgme

pped forward and kn

u tell me?" he

not the version of me the world wants you to be with. B

ed for h

socialite. It's the woman who fights for people she loves. Who's been through hell and still get

rapidly, o

told you,"

tell m

she

about the years of silence from her father, about her sist

e was done, Xa

not

dist

fur

dug into her pain. At

. "This

ater Cele

g her espresso whe

m an unkno

on Cha

e

w made her

r Leah, the "nobody" walking into a co

eside

vi

and no tie, his expre

ns. Leah paused, looking

said, her voice strong. "And I'm not afrai

every word she says. And anyone who cont

her espresso a

Day Comm

de, Leah exhaled. She hadn't

rt?" she asked Xavier as

ed honestly. "

Leah barely ten years o

ah! You'

knees, hugging her

ognition flickering in her eyes. "We sa

ed. "I'm n

e cut in, ste

ed to him

ockery in his tone

Penthouse

vier on the couch, exhau

meant it?"

ha

I'm a

, brushing a thu

es

gh I'm an emotional, hormonal mess who

ushing hers. "Especia

kiss, her fingers ta

orm but inside this moment

ince the whirlwind began

ld surv

n't just stand

holding