PTE

advise tha

"Or what? He'll lock me in a tower?

ust a moment-a flicker of something that

w the paper at his feet. "I'm n

ned the

Do you know what that means, Mr. Stewart? It means every sig

the crumpled rules. "Mr. Dray ant

has a contingency plan for rebellious wives? A dunge

l at three o'clock today." Mr. Stewart straightened, his voice c

ran cold. "Th

a remi

away. "Please. You seem like a decent man. Help me. Just... just let

inal. "Your uncle controls your accounts. Mr. Dray contr

opping to her side. "So I'm su

He pulled an envelope from his ja

tearing it open wi

-black, heavy, limitless-

herever you want within the e

er: you're be

-

she read the words agai

up sharply.

silence was

rose. "In my bedroom?

r. Dray is not a voyeur. He simp

nt!" Kate screamed.

to silence. "Mr. Dray has provided you with security, comfort, and resources most people only dream of. He's protected

erous,"

-seven years, Mrs. Dray. I've seen Mr. William at his worst and his... well, his less worst. What

tion fr

d off completely. "That

e now. "Everyone keeps talking about danger, about threats, abo

Stewart gently removed

ing Kate alone in th

-

being

ure enough, there-a tiny lens, barely visible a

rison, and every mome

am, to whoever was watching. "You want to see

edit card and marched to

pped in her path-mountains of muscl

's voice was surprisingly p

ut

d to accom

ve without security. Fine. You can follow me. But you

s exchang

d to infor

e front doors. "Tell him his wife is going shopping. Tell him she's spen

ed open

llided with W

r, tie loosened, looking more human than she'd ever seen him. Beh

?" His voice was

. "You said I could g

n the

thrust the paper at him. "No qualifie

found somewhere else to be. Then he stepped inside, closing the d

d Kate forced herself not to back away. "

inked.

dinner. In public. At the most expensive restaurant in the city. You can wear

not-I do

ke a puzzle. "Because five seconds ago, y

wisting m

ou don't actually want freedom, Kate. You want to puni

not b

with me. Smile for the cameras. Play the perfect wife.

etched hand. It was a tra

w refusing would

ion," she s

me

About my father. About the debt. About

William's eyes-surpri

," he

ook hi

her closer, she caught the faint scent of his co

er ear. "If you try to run during dinner, if you make a

he felt. "You'll lock me up? Threaten my

e security footage from the night your parents died. And tr

absolute

hat did yo

r the car, leaving her frozen in the foyer with

. From the night

h. The one tha

e be security

ess

wasn't a

-

er tha

rived faster than

a dress, the next, she was walking d

h powerful guests-business mogu

filled the air, but Kate

r forward. "Smile, Kate. This is your new life," he mutt

lips tr

lack suit, his green eyes cold and calculating. He didn't look at her