n't s

e, even with the massive bed and the smell of unfa

't forget the vo

break

adn't been able to reverse. The sister I thought had run o

had pla

ked straight

cial. Like the suite had been carved out of another world-a glass tower meant to ke

e silk nightgown-the one the maids had placed in the wardrob

ad been mean

thing

ew, the gowns, t

the

dr

im before

ide the suite. Precise. Purposeful. His presence moved

, unsure why. Insti

tensity he'd worn yesterday. Dressed in a charcoal suit with a black shi

e swept

re aw

ed. "B

othing fo

We have rules

walls, marble floors, a fireplace that didn't even need fire to inti

me to sit on the

bey

handed me one without asking how

rate lies," h

art j

kno

is head, ey

yo

fr

end it now. I don't have patience fo

own into t

t I was h

at changed, I wou

ips and sipped, hiding t

tand," I

in silence f

at bes

os

cl

. "You don't speak

odd

leave the penthouse w

lin

d live like a

a marriage built on love. You're mine for a

s sink into my

or a r

asked before I

e cut t

ow. Every word from your mouth, every move you mak

taste of cof

ice dropping an octave. "No t

eath

lem," I

pa

lowly, "you decide to tell me t

at him,

t it didn't r

don't know so

allo

sure. The wedding. Every

his fingers br

ou're better at lying than

roat

lected his phone, a

u'll stay here. The maids wi

asked before I

ed at t

ack, "you'll learn what happens when

oor c

so hard my

n't just

ll the illusions of freed

dea how long I

s pa

ff. The kitchen was pristine, untouched. The dining room looked like it had

. With a walk-in close

shoes. Elena's perfume. Elena's silk blouses a

mach t

t belon

this w

I had n

ucked between folded clothes-an envelop

was a

sis

anoth

b, leaning close, whisp

was sharp, crue

face from

ai Sa

e's

led tightly ar

der sh

ust a wedding

I was th

m gold. I stood near the window in a silk gown the maids insisted

t exp

e b

he front door open

as h

carried-silent, sharp, composed. His eyes

hing as he

when we were

tonight," he murmured,

o

. Al

y wrist and slow

a single finger acr

t's racing

d not

ted hi

ed of

" I

, breath ghostin

shoul

ath hi

suddenly, he

low

d in bookshelves and low lighting. A large oak desk st

g from within and

ph

i

tar

had

nod

on't get to keep

screen. My c

r from th

. Untra

l th

st tig

led me,"

ed an e

ho

le

dn't

stake. That I shouldn

pped c

u belie

d. "I don

ddenly cold. "She ran from me. From t

mach d

id my

he

k

ven have t

n seconds-gripping my

red, eyes blazing. "But you're worse than her. A

n why-why let

de. And you were desper

urned m

ew all

you walked down the aisle. You w

at cons

d n

ile wa

aureen. Not by acci

't choo

econd you put

ot tight, just enough to make m

whispered. "Bury your f

rem

hy have

es dar

what happens when you r

a kiss so fierce, so punishing, i

e, it wa

as f

ses

ng

errif

rt of me kis