self, or the fact that he didn't even pretend to deny it. She wasn't naïve. She knew every powerful family ha

ce's private study. It was locked. Of course it was. She considered calling him, but stopped herself. She knew she wouldn't get answers t

ne to "rest." As soon as the door clicked shut behind her, she walked b

s, most of them filled with industry law, international trade books, and files. His desk w

h the laptop. S

ew aired th

flattering. My smile looked effortless. Jace's hand rested lightly on my knee. We looked perfect. Poised. In love. No one woul

er honesty. Her fire." I almost laughed. Almost. But when I turned my head to look at him-on-screen and in real l

y fairy tale." The moment the screen went black, the silence in the room

remote and turned the TV off, then leaned back, restin

d a s

e it sou

ideways. "S

little. "Maybe th

rtain. I stood up to go, but then he a

s. Is it going to make th

s serious. "My father

I stepped closer. "

he'd hand over full control of Lancaster Global by year's end. Board approval, sto

ot just your punishment. I

at me. "No.

more-his honesty or the

ight,

fore he could s

't sle

sive new treatment plan. Edward had already approved the payment. I should have felt grateful. Inst

ile walking through the

ing," she said flatly. "Hosted by your

urse i

ou wear something red

I match the col

Marian never broke. She simply nodded and w

m was massive two floors of books, old leather armchairs, and high windows that caught the soft ora

ened to a random

y it flaps out, looking, with it

ere until I heard his voice. "I

s. He was barefoot, hair slightly damp, like he had just co

of surpris

nd sat across from me. No

. "What you said last night

own. "It's the t

hat, Elena. You jus

, steady, like it mattered-di

p to fall apart

away. "Nei

silence. It hung b

r used to read poetry t

ed. "Sh

d her off to stay silent. I didn't see her again until

sor

oft thing I had. When she left,

sharpness. His refusal to trust anything t

know," I

" He stood, then hesitate

him without

endlessly beneath the cliff edge. Jace leaned on the ra

" he said, "to survive this

nk the fact that you're as

across my cheek. Without thinking, he reached out and tucked them behi

expect you

her d

t charged. Close enough to feel the weight of

in slightl

he pull

ight,

walke

ove for a

f me wished he

terrified of what wou