As Winter sat in the car, the imposing iron gates creaked open, reveal

ess and steel herself as she entered through the grand double doors. Inside, th

alled out from down the hall before disappearing behind a locked door. Winter felt

housekeeper, approached her w

she replied, trying to bring som

ed paths with Pierre, the friendly chef, whose warm smile and enticin

icured grounds, she felt suffocated by her wealth-everything and yet nothing. She touched her wedding r

olished wood table gleaming under a cryst

hone. "No, Winter, don't even go there," she

inter ventured, h

lied, still absor

tered toast, eyes hopef

ers. "Don't do tha

e asked, curi

normal," he shot

em. "I'm trying to make the best of it," she said, s

f before he leaned back, sighing. "Ok

e held her smile. "It's st

gering. "I've got meetings. Enjoy your

ments later, Pierre poked in, eyes twinkling. "I heard

eful for his lightnes

et the sunshine in your spi

nation, she nodded,

..

the blinds to illuminate his glass desk. The atmosphere was tense,

ness etched on his face. "So, you married the con

at his drink. "I

gun to your head," Jones

s," Trent said, taking a

ng you well," Jones noted. "You loo

nce. "Let's switch gears.

s tearing us apart," Jones

hear that,"

you? Stuck with a woman you b

his jaw. "She's.

lead to permanenc

t. She's just part of the debt I owe,"

forward. "She could either throw your li

like she's never known sorrow, but sh

ation and caution in his laugh