ing under gold-plated chandeliers. Aria stood between two men-her

t her like she

eside her lik

he was crumb

d softly, eyes boring into her. "Did

future. And now, he was demanding an answer she didn't know how to giv

w in her ear. "Smile, Aria. Or

her lips to curve upward. It wasn't

ice a porcelain whisper. "I mar

rched her face, looking for somethi

said bitterly. "You told m

d. "People grow up, Julian. Aria s

'd plastered on for this world of liars and polished betrayal. But instead, sh

felt like a betrayal of

of the ballroom, Damon pulled her into a

g to start a w

lves," she snapped back

you to act l

an your

My eq

his face was unreadable.

he whispered. "Not after black

your freedom, Aria. Survive this world with me. Play your

feel like a

she walked into with

contrast to the glittering illusion of the gala. The city lights shim

pool at her feet like a discarded identity. She stood by the

across the room, watchi

his voice softer now, almost ti

she replied, not turning

g up the discarded red dress and pl

is?" he asked. "Dragg

, facing him now. "And you hate that

ead of lashing out, he lau

ctly why I

blin

ha

I didn't need a woman who could smile on cue. I needed

from instinct than mod

once, she saw somethin

e

a. And not just through the

ch tighte

esitate

ey know I've inherited the empire, and they'll do anythi

sed to fix tha

andal-proof wife. A love story the press eats up. A woman to

weight of it all crashi

ied me to

n't de

. this marriage wasn't

s abo

ied me to

gravity of it hit her like a punch to the gut. Her life wasn't hers anym

you to protect what's mine. My

equation?" she asked. "

form looming over her as he

ok a st

use

tion. The media sees you as the soft edge to my sharp name. The pe

isted," sh

s busi

your enemies? What happens when they re

when they'll underestimate y

made her b

t for me. I left everything behind. I signed my name to a contract that mak

ed. "I never force

destroy my father's

ll between them. Thi

n't de

And you think your

pped up. "Do

, Aria. He did. I just fi

you talk

st some noble businessman, Aria. He owed dangerous people. He made enemies in places that even I

eath h

re ly

I have t

show

his shoulder. "Be car

fraid of t

he muttered, then

e was even a grain of truth to what Damon said, her entire

file," she said aga

wn the glass

Ton

amused. "You alw

chin. "Only w

le, low and dry. "Y

ho

or a place at my side. You don't want to be

truth," sh

brush his fingers against hers-a touc

d. "Let's set fire

efore-sleek, steel-reinforced, secured with a biometric lock. As

't just a

as a w

ghting, its walls lined with black shelves stacked with files, encrypted

et and pulled out a manila fo

AL: RYDER

ther's

roat w

out. "Still wa

with shaki

of forged contracts, financial laundering records, and

re body

she wh

said, voice hard now. "And

t leather chair, the fol

. "He was... He was alway

her, his hand restin

said. "I'm telling you because you need t

ed, but no so

ughter of a man they all wanted dead. And the only reason

ell back agai

n't just

as sur

n the study w

her mind, but none made it past the tight knot in her throat. Her father-a criminal? He

r end of the room, phone in hand. He had stepp

the file... No, she didn't break

pa

doing. She's not

breath

abil

around the armrest, nails

w what we've uncovered, not yet. And make sure the Cayman tran

se

ody grow colde

ny doors she hadn't opened. And now that she h

turned back to her, his expression had

ay?" he

e file to her chest like armo

en frowned. "Y

, Damon. Just

ething in his eyes-guilt,

he said, walking closer. "It'

equation now?

Aria. I'm trying

ng secret

esit

told her

eed all of it. No more half-truths. No more rehearsed lines. If I'm g

asked, voice suddenly razor-s

y m

silence, the tension be

quietly, "Fine.

leek, more battered, like it had seen the edge of war. Inside were red-stamped files, old p

g it up. "Proof that someone on my board i

eath caug

to someone on the outside. Someone tied to your father's

d her th

ve this

s to me, I need someone I tr

tiny object in her palm

ust you," s

n trust the part of you

idn't

out of the study, the dri

ause he knew. He had just handed her the

o idea who el