Bound by a contract: led by love.

urged forward, their bodyguards clearing a path through the throng of cameras and microphon

the engine and the occasional crackle of the radio. Evelyn gazed out the window, he

Drake finally broke the silence. "Well, that w

ession neutral. "I thought we

k telling a room full of reporters that we met at a bu

uth," Evelyn shot back. "That we met at

ve started as a contract, but I thought we

ou mean a facade? Because that's all

isdain. "I gave you everything: a luxurious life, a business, and a name

even. "I'm not ungrateful, I'm just tired of living a

living a lie? You're my wife, Evelyn. And you'll do as I say. After all, I'm the one who saved you from that du

spered, her voice trembling. "You have no idea what it was like to work hard every day, to

en you can buy your way to the top? And that's exactly what I d

cing with anger. She knew Drake was trying t

eak, her voice cold and even. "I may have signed

me sick each time you play the vic

a sum of fifty million dollars was paid into your account just to

with fury. She opened her mouth to respond to Drake's har

efiance. "I need to answer this," she spat

ther, his eyes narrowing.

swering the phone w

chaos in the room. "Evelyn, it's Rachel from the press office. We need a

gaze challenging. "We'll be right the

ger, his eyes flashed with

l give them a statement, all right. And it w

er eyes blazing with determination. Her words hung in the air, a challenge to Drake's

elyn," he growled, his

not afraid of the truth coming out." Her

s like he might strike her. But then, his expression ch

"If you want to play it that way, let's play. But y

ng Evelyn standing alone in the ruined penthous

**

She had just finished speaking with Rachel, the reporter, explaining that she and Drake would give a proper

dim light of her room. It was a symbol of the hell she had will

eft behind, the freedom she had sacrificed for this gilded cage. She had thought

f she could silence the despair that threatened to consume her. She f

pered, her voice cracking wit

rth, the wedding ring glinting like a cruel joke. She felt like she was starin

he bed, her body shaking with sobs. She was trapped,

ell into a fitful sleep, her body e

ression softening as he saw her sleeping form. He approached the bed, his eyes s

ent, breaking the moment. He sighed a

his eyes never le

knew his mother's voice, cold and calculating, coul

ence," she cooed. "You stood up for you

rip on the phone tightening.

sking those dreadful questions... perhaps it's ti

on't need your interference

arling, I'm just trying to help. And don't forget, you're

y. He didn't need his mother's manipulation or her reminders of his fa

leeping form. For a moment, he hesitated, then turned and left the room

*

f Tuscany, Italy. He was engrossed in the press conference playing on the large screen in front of hi

ess, descended the stairs, her expression a deep frown. She approached him wi

oice laced with concern. "I don't l

s never leaving the screen. "Wha

e spat, her voice venomous. "He's deceiving you

s eyes narrowing. "What ar

ng you, Jaxon, Drake is hiding something. And that wife of his...

ng with disdain. "Quit this act of jealousy, Sca

ush Jaxon further. For now, she'd bide her time, waiting for the per