fell silent. The last of the guests had depa
osened his tie, the last vestige of his public persona falling away. His eyes, cold and predatory, scanned the room, searching fo
e bare. The sile
ssing them onto a glass tabletop. The sh
feeling heavy and suffocating. The room was larger than her entir
whiskey into a crystal tumbler and drank it down in one smooth motion. The lack of th
voice. It came out as a dry
e of her dress to the tired lines on her face. It was a look of pu
his lips. "You really think you'
the force of a slap. The b
d threw it onto the coffee table in front of her. It sl
me was on the cover. She didn't need to open
opping to a lethal chill. "Did you think the ceremony wo
red, her body trembling wit
ing her to look at him. His touch was rough, bruising. "You think I don't know what your
so wrapped in his own narrative of betrayal, that any explanation would be p
line, she shoved him h
g. His face contorted with fury. He took a step back,
s face flashed in his mind. His grandfather was withholding the pri
umber and put
egarding Evans Corporation. If the delivery I'm expecting isn't made by dawn, we execute
e, on their wedding night, he was setting th
" she screamed, lun
ssion one of cold, cruel triumph. This wasn't just about her; it was a messa
, "do you understand
tail of emotions exploded inside her. Bu
k, narrowed into slits of ice. Her fear
urned. She yanked open the
his cursed deal. If Alaric was going to break the terms,
ess tangled around her legs as she spr
d staircase, gasping for breath
re a silk dressing gown, a glass of red wine in he
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