phone long after t

five years ago. Ask

gnize the number, and she had no idea who could've sent it. But the w

years

connection. She hadn't even known Adrian back then.

e feel the need to w

the room. She should ignore it. This

u really think Adrian Wolfe married you to

adn't just married her for revenge, or for her father's deb

ed being left

oom, the sun was streaming through the tall

nd of clinking silverware un

risp white shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows. He looked infuriati

m, composed, smug - on

ring the two maids who bowed sligh

opped across from him, his da

said smoothly. "S

move. "We n

wn, tilting his head

married me," Cl

is tone remained calm. "W

said it was about my father's debt, about revenge against D

tened almost impe

ping closer. "What ha

ng in the air l

ned instantly, the calm m

?" he asked, his voice l

, but she didn't ba

y, his full height

that message

ted. "So there was an accident. What happened,

tayed controlled. "Delete whatever mess

wife now-whether I wanted to be or not. And if there's something fr

his hands tightening

past," he said after a tense pause

ying that, but you're lying. Whoever sent that

ment before he finally spoke again, his tone

otect myself, Clara.

ht. "Protecting

didn't

spoke. The tension between the

omething else - frustration, confusi

le?" she asked quietly. "Tha

ook his head. "It's not about you being fragile. It's a

t forever. I'm already involved. You dragged me into your life

t, and something unreadable flickered

closer, his vo

n't let you get hurt becau

she forced herself to hold

second, she thought she saw something flicker across Adr

e, replaced by the

," he said firmly

ok her he

, almost amused desp

t could destroy both of us," Clara said, her voice steady now. "Yo

st stared at her, his d

t, almost reluctant

this very difficult, a

er arms. "You

ered for a second b

y. "I'll tell you... e

but before she could speak, his p

his expression i

wned. "Wh

aw tighten

t believe him,

-

self by wandering through the enormous mansion, but her mind kept circling back to the

study, she noticed t

on his d

ouldn't. It was wrong. But curiosity claw

up with a tex

when she

's going to tell her ever

stomach

r every

the sound of the front door op

n was

's footsteps approached. She slipped around the corner, he

s unreadable, but his phone buzzed again i

omething

w, so

on her balcony, star

heart jumped. Another message

on. But be careful. If Adrian finds ou

the screen, her

or find Barrington herself and uncover the

ned her grip

knew what sh