lionaires with white-marble kitchens and rooms too big for

k Bentley pulled silently into the circular drive. As she stepped out, her br

in the architecture, and shadows clinging to every edge. The mansion

ldness and took her luggage wordlessly. A maid, sli

h from fireplaces. No sound of family or staff chatter. The only t

through a corridor that felt like it belonged in a pri

echoed, dryly. "

in how to respond. "Mr. Black

urse

a gallery lined with black-and-white portraits-none of which bore any family resemblance.

taged. It looked like a model suite from a high-

on the silk-s

. Wear somethin

he signature made

it." Just a directive. Just an

the massive fireplace. But the room was so sterile, she

hone

it? Is he trea

oat tig

ck: Safe. No

pa

with him. I know he's... difficult.

love in her father's words. At the emotional

reply and tossed th

the curved staircase for d

or. Not just for vanity-this dress had a message. You

ning table, back straight, fingers steepled under hi

an eyebrow. Just that ever

early,"

es," she replied smoothly, sett

y recognized: roasted sea bass in lemon foam, truffle

ceremony. He didn't glance a

ke the

ways eat l

ightly against the

lo

Slowly. "What makes

. "Because this place doesn't feel li

es. Not offense. Not emotion. Something else

egacy," he said, placing hi

catch on her necklace. "And you think I'm

he perfect prop, Ivy. Ivy Sinclair. The fragile

htened aroun

company survives. Your workers get paid. You

building

s the distance. A slow,

he bars of your cage are made of gold. And

ed to wa

she said

head turn

the company without marrying me. Hell, you could've de

n't answer

t collect broken things. I

left th

room-no, her assig

nd. The kind that left scars no one could see. She felt like she'd wandered into a war z

stand and found a blank journal.

pen and wrote

eart. And I fear that I'll

he hea

ft n

stil

ible. A quiet click. The soun

Opened her bedroom door an

ss, quiet. But the air felt disturbed, like something

me from the dar

u to lock

sp

, no longer in his dinner jacket. Shirt un

idn't

e said, stepping toward her

omething,"

," he r

eyes

breath. "What's

expressio

is locked f

at p

ano

rms. "What are yo

d close-t

ng everyt

eak, he turned and vani