ce

ll carried the ghost of last night-the cold press of Vincent's hands, the burning humiliation of

stomach. My fingers trembled slightly as I traced the flatness there, whispering softly, a

elieved it. But the w

the sleep from my swollen eyes. I was halfway to the kit

ond, my he

smelled faintly of his cologne, though fainter than usual, as if he hadn't bothered refres

Didn't acknowledge me. He just walked past,

g inside

walking, ignoring the ache in my chest. Fine. If he

the pan, stirring, flipping, plating. The sizzle of the pan filled the silence. I thought cooking

ing of my pho

uickly, glancing at

ief, answering im

nature mix of affection and mischief. "Finally! I thought you'

ugh. "I was tired. I... co

oice dropped into a suspicious tone. "Hmm. That's strange. Beca

of coffee, coughin

t dripping from her words. "Adrian asked me for your nu

ng my face in my

what he offered? The latest sports car on track. Do

, not eighteen. How can you

lly, her voice breaking into an awful, exa

despite myself. "You s

a princess fro

s," I chuckled,

usly, Cinnamon... are you okay? Yo

hing-about Vincent, about the contract, about the life I was trapped in.

fine.

't sound convinced, but she let

start," I warned

espite the heaviness in my chest. That was the thing about Morg

ing up. I carried my breakfast to the

ered the living

s. His legs were crossed, one arm draped lazily along the backrest. His beard had grown i

fly to me before dropp

ned not to let him see how

ing my plate on my knees. I hadn't even taken a

n to start workin

ers, clinking against the plate. My hea

did h

masking my panic. "And why do you

"I don't. I only care abou

me. "Of course. That's a

ere disgracing it

worry. No one even knows I'm the young mistress of your pre

s jaw clenched, his hand curling into a fist on the

ention her name," he warned, hi

"You're right. I don't have any rights, do I? My only

en us crackled

ren't worth Lillian. So know your place. If not,

ing his phone into his pocket

ded, leaving me sitting there

ad the last

lling freely down my cheeks. My fingers dug into my clot

e Vincent I kne

... was a