THREE-YEARS CONTRACT MARRIAGE WITH THE HOT BILLIONAIRE

le

es. I'd told security to give Lena privacy but to intervene if things escalated. I was just protecting my investment, maintai

e's not what I expected. She's... genuine. When'

judge of character. Lena was no different from any other woman. The trembling voice during the vows, the

adn't. Not

ice melting. The way she'd listened when he talked, really listened, asking follow-up questions

st time I gave

at Lena's chest. Lena stood perfectly still, taking it. My free hand moved toward the inte

ely. She sat on a lobby bench for ten minutes, staring at nothing. I watched her shoulders rise and fall with

I was in the living room pretending to read

hand

did sh

dy. "She'll be at the dinner tomorrow night. She

re was a red mark on her cheek that hadn't been

esn't

the qu

my eyes

et down my drink carefully, because if I didn't,

lightly. "I've survived worse from her. I

od now. That make

saction." She said it without bitterness, just stating facts. "You

't back away, even though I towered over her. Up close, I could see faint scars on her hands, t

side. You will not engage with your sister alone. If she appr

o you

out harshly. "And the Blackwood name do

to solve a puzzle. "You're not protecti

t matte

ppose

and I found myself sa

sed. "He

s everyone has good i

you d

artner, not my father. I remembered my father's cold rage, the way he dismantled her entire life a

said. "I

uppose we have that in common

ndow. My phone buzzed-a text from Nate: "How's married

it without

at actually fit her, elegant without being flashy. She was still too thin, still moved like she was trying to take up le

ked, and I hated that

my cufflinks, not trus

ndustries, Billy Holdings. All potential partners for the Riverside dev

stand there loo

inely didn't know what was expected. "You're my wife, not furniture. Mak

erst

appened over truffle risotto. Nate was already there, lighting up when he saw us. "T

s articulate and thoughtful. I noticed Anderson's wife warmed to her immediately when Lena

k. She wore a dress that cost more than most people's cars despite her

cross the restaurant. "Look at you! All dre

Derek smirked and I fel

evenly. "I didn't

e. It's so surprising, isn't it? Lena was always so plain. So forgettable and now she's married to one of the most eligible bachelors in the city." He

in smoothly: "Actually, I think Jules made an excellent

te. But we both know Lena's only value is her last nam

trembling in her lap. I was about to shut this

r your charm." She looked directly at her sister. "But I also don't

flushed red and Derek looked uncomfortabl

ink we should move on to business, gentlemen. Though I must say, Mrs. B

siness talk. I kept seeing the red mark on Lena's ch

uch w

le I finalized details with Anderson, and I'd watched them walk out toget

t well tonight,"

nk y

ay to you when y

sked if I was okay. He said if I eve

gener

your f

s partner. There

into the building, I said, "You s

hy

you're-"

se you'

ridiculous. She wasn't mine. She was a co

what?" Lena

andle her alone." I got out of t

uzzed. Security alert: someone had tried to access the buil

k and screaming at the security guard. "She's

Miss Carter, I'll have to ask you

Two more guards arrived. She wa

tling over me. I picked u

a Carter. By morning." I paused. "And Liam? Make it airtight. If she

closed bedroom door down the hall. She was probably asleep. She would

ng my investme

Thanks for dinner. Lena is a good wo

sage for a long tim

lipped under my door. Inside was a photograph-Lena, m

her mother. Ask her who was really driving the car that night. Some secrets are worth millions