el

lights blurred into streaks of gold and crimson as we sped towards our destination. Alexander sat opposite me, his profile stark and unyielding against the passi

ming newness. Just hours ago, I was Evelyn Hayes, an artist facing financial ruin. Now, I was Evelyn Sterling, a woman draped in de

t and devoid of emotion. He didn't look up from his tablet. "Smile. Nod. Answer briefl

g in the air, a chilling premonition. He wasn't wrong. A sudden, secret marriage to a bil

anecdotes. Keep it professional. Our union is, as stated, a matter of convenie

not an object. But I swallowed it. This was his world, his rules.

blinding and incessant. A roar of voices, indistinguishable yet demanding. The car d

clutch bag, my knuckles wh

small of my back, a purely performative gesture that sent shivers down my spine. It was a possessive gesture,

ng! Over here!" shouts eru

tible smile to the cameras, a tight, controlled expression that conveyed nothing beyond polite acknowledgment. I

ew Mrs. Sterling?" a voice sc

d, his voice calm, projecting effortlessly over the din. "But tonight is about Senator Maxwell's charity. We're here to

hed elegance of the hotel ballroom. The contrast was jarring. One moment, blin

red like frozen stars. A sea of well-dressed faces turned towards us, murmuring. My presence

a mixture of curiosity and shrewd assessment. "Senator Maxwell,"

ell said, his eyes, surprisingly warm, sweeping over me. He was a po

My mind raced, trying to recall any details about him from the brief briefing

Maxwell. And his wife, Eleanor." A tall, elegant woman, h

ding, offering brief, generic responses when prompted. My mind, however, kept drifting back to the wooden box. The memory of

orld with such ruthless precision, truly be that boy? The thou

his element, a king on his throne. There was no trace of the boy in my memory, no hint of vulnerability, only unyielding power. It made

mentarily separated from Alexander, drawn into a polite conversat

r," she said, her voice soft. "How wonderf

pe to find one soon." It was a lie, of course. My contract with Alexander likely had clauses preve

. "It must be quite a change, stepping into such

earning curve," I admitted, a small, genuine sm

ly loyal to those he cares about." Her gaze flickered towards Alexander, a tenderness in her eyes

memory? The one who made me the wooden box? The idea was both terrifying and tantalizing. It

e mask. "Eleanor, I hope Evelyn isn't boring you with talk of art.

velyn is quite charming. We were discussing her adjus

strange current pass between us, a silent challenge, a silent question. Did he

xan

tlet of the press. She was pale, her eyes wide, but she moved with a surprising composure. Better than I expected. No hysterics

e new Mrs. Sterling?" A vo

y, cutting through the noise. "But tonight is about Senator Maxwell's charity. We're here to suppo

ciety. Evelyn stayed close, a silent shadow. She was beautiful in the sapphire gown, a stark

rue purpose. The infrastructure project was critical, and Maxwell's support wa

. Sterling," Maxwell said, his eyes assessi

surprisingly clear. She was playing her part well. I introdu

ffering brief, appropriate responses. She blended in, almost too well. My decision to choose someone from outside my circle, someone unt

past I refused to acknowledge. And her reaction to the small wooden box, as reported by Clara. Disoriented. Had it truly trigge

t spot for sincerity. If Evelyn presented herself as truly overwhelmed, truly genuine,

Eleanor say. My jaw tightened. Art. A weakness. A purs

pe to find one soon." A fleeting thought crossed my mind. Was she truly

such a public role so suddenly. Are you ad

a small, genuine smile. "A very steep one." This

about." Eleanor's words were a double-edged sword. True, perhaps, to a select few. But certainly not to

r, I hope Evelyn isn't boring you with talk of art." My tone was ligh

quite charming. We were discussing her adjustment to city life." She g

ness and probing curiosity. She was trying to read me, to understand. And that was a pro

commitment, and maintained the image of a happily if suddenly, married man. Evelyn played her part flawless

learer of the press. The air was cool, a welcome respite from the stifling formality of th

g the silence. Her voice was quiet, almost reflec

conceded. It was as close to

tful. "Senator Maxwell's wife, El

mediately w

l-guarded." Her gaze was direct, unwa

be me so directly. Especially not my contractual wife. The headache behind my eyes flared into

exactly what you see. A man who demands order, efficiency, and disc

doubt, a hint of something unyielding. She didn't beli

gaze back to the window, wi

together, if she truly remembered our shared childhood, the truth of my past, the reason I married her, would come crashing down around us. And that was a secret I would go to any length to