but the heavy curtains blocked the pale dawn light. For a moment, she stayed still, wrapped in the suffocating we

metal, sharp reminder. Mrs. Blackwood now. The na

f bed, feet brushing the thick carpet, and opened it

akfast is ready downstairs, but y

e warmth was comforting, but didn'

said, voice barel

u're doing better

smile. "Better isn

nderstanding. "I'm here if y

landed heavily. No one had sai

ia," Aria

ve, then closed the

-

he marble halls, servants setting the grand dining table. The scent

t because the office lights were

r truly

ht made h

She picked it up, eyes scanning the

well la

ords. Just the bar

ou." But her fingers hesi

ed the p

-

was a sile

able, immaculate as always, his

e him, the tension thick e

ries. No fo

agreement that neither o

Xander said aft

at her watch.

blink. "Un

e, steady. "I'm

. "No, but you're a posses

hit her li

fists, nails digg

oice low but fierce. "You thi

ce cold as ice. "You are m

side her. "You may own the co

narrowed,

ned. "Rebellion h

-

tched long a

events designed to polish Xander's public image. She had

ed her curves but didn't scream for attention. Her

driver's silence

ering crowd swirled ar

t, commanding, magnetic. But to Aria,

d when they arrived. "Smile. Be pl

ded, li

ght bl

onversations ma

olished surface,

bird in a

-

corner, a familiar

ri

-her childhood friend, no

was warm

been a

" she sa

ng. "He's a hard man

htened. "He's

ed. "You don't have

weight on her sh

clicking on marble shat

ed, expressio

smoothly. "Enj

d back, sensi

on Aria's. "Remember,

d hard, the c

icked between th

-

, the night was t

ngth of her room,

used to break her down piece by piece with cruel words masked as "love." She wondered, not for the first

rrupted by a low voice

rsation, a bitter edge in his tone. "She

in the air, Xavier's voice c

oug

ng was co

heart t

d he wa

-

er waited, shadows

undaries," he said

"I'm alive. I'm n

close. The air be

ed. "You don't know w

voice steady. "Mayb

g sil

ion shifted-a flicker

ocket and pulled out

his," h

lded it c

nside froze

ong move, and everythin

eath h

"You belong to me in mor

-

note, the manor seemed

wind howled l

price of love reveale