ll echoed in my ears as I

sed. We're

tleness. Just a command. The ki

ngers trembling slightly as I fastened the

ion didn't

oaked streets. Not the woman who sat be

ad been sculpted by elegance curate

to my skin. It flowed at the hips and shimmered under the soft white lig

waves cascading down my back, adorned wi

hout a single word from me. A soft, sultry look: barely-there eyeshado

ps were st

ed... e

d like h

heel when a knock came at the d

od is waiting

urse h

ut of the room, feeling the weight

hen I

he grand staircase like a

t, I forgot

. His features were carved like marble. Strong jawline, chee

g pale irises, not quite grey or blue, but something in b

rything. Eyes that

way from his face. Everything about him screame

his gaze skimming over my dress

llowed

say where w

u'll

d for a moment, then placed my

whelming... too close,

ken by the soft clink of his cufflink against the armrest. I looke

, I knew this wasn't

panoramic view of the city skyline. The kind of place where C

ould take me to some run-down s

s instantly, bowing low and leading us to a privat

ers too mostly couple

still fo

Well... mostly because of

Blac

ith champagne and the first course some

rying not to tremble, but the t

ked softly, unable to ho

ightly, eyes studying me

eople need

ee

la. Publicly. That

nched

ht is a pe

dn't d

wife for my entertainment only," he said

bli

t this was a conven

lightly on the table a

sob entrusted everything-and I mean e

fro

stepm

ights to Blackwood Holdings. But his will included a

kind of

eyes locke

tive months to gain any rights to contest the power

ared

key to taking b

Ye

ind r

d've picked anyone. So

yes da

chose you doesn

t his curt

asked, "And what's y

ng she can't manipulate. And you... we

a swig

that was a compl

er son?" I ask

aw tig

child needing breast milk. Totally useless. My fat

hen-a venom I hadn't heard before. His hat

ens after six m

ur mother safe. And I get b

like it was

ng about his worl

d-seared scallops in truffle

role," I said

e didn't need to. Hi

I'll play the part. Ju

p, brows sli

and your stepmother that m

witched-alm

er time," he said, swiping

ess further, a cat-lik

le.

e was swe

ust in time

l dress. Perfume thick in the air. She move

t up to him and slid her hand across his sh

pletely ignoring me, her fingers lingering on

er didn'

tching her, my s

as ever," she purred, leaning clo

duce me. To pull away. T

he di

ly... her gaze s

mile f

widened

dress to my hair, as though realiz

hed, and her lips p

re wit

rmal. It wasn't just jealousy. It was

der shifted in his seat, causing her to unlatch her

augh

er arm-firm a

im. He didn't say a word, but something pas

roat and straighten

e briefly though the smile didn't reach her eyes

lite nod, unsur

Alexander

her name.

er hands in m

er voice was light, but

again longer this time. Her brows furrowed, l

he forced a

, Isla. I'm Celeste," she said, ges

do the honors of an introduct

aged a

to meet you

to understan

nows m

king sharply on the marble floor as she passed

ht, his gaze fixed on the glass in front

at about?" I

ortant," he r

t moment stuck with me-l

in the silver spoon, then back i

when someone was uncomfortable. And that woman

it in h

it I'd seen in Alexander's private room-the on

htened slightly

ust a coi