For the sake of burning love

gs felt like jelly, and she leaned against the cold marble wall in the hallway, clutching the fol

to. She had thought marrying Alaric would be an escape from the torment of the Brown family, but now she rea

els clicking against the marble floor. She needed to get out of this suffocating

ever since she had married Alaric. The sprawling gardens of the Renard estate stretched out before her, meticulously maintained, as beautifu

ry time she was in his presence, it was as if the air grew thinner, harder to breathe. And yet, there

her head as if to banish the thoughts. "H

etween them, one that confused and frightened her. She hated him for how he treated her, but there was no denying

ressing down on her. This marriage was supposed to save her, but now it felt like it was slowly consum

ed her head, wiping away any trace of the tears that threatened to fall, and

s unreadable as ever. "Mr. Renard asked me to remind you about th

trophy wife he used to complete the illusion of perfection. Melisa felt a knot form in her stomach at the thought of spending the

orcing a small, tight-lipped smile.

e gala would be a performance, as it always was. She would wear the expensive dress Alaric had no doubt

as normal. Nothing about

-

zed anymore. The deep emerald dress she wore clung to her curves, the low neckline drawing attention to her delicate collarbones. Her long, d

looked like the perfect wi

e, she fe

a sharp, tailored black suit, his broad shoulders and tall frame commanding attention. His cold, dark

e," he said, his voi

a replied, keeping

e beside her as they walked down the grand staircase and out to the waiting car. The tension bet

-

lden glow over the sea of well-dressed guests. The clinking of champagne glasses, soft laughter, and the hum of polite

er with the practiced ease of someone used to being in control. Every now and then, he would stop to greet

lite smiles and nods as Alaric introduced her as "my wife." But she felt like

fidence that immediately put Melisa on edge. Her name was Victoria, and she was one of Alaric's busi

s curving into a smile as she approach

oothly, his voice cool and deta

briefly to Melisa before returning to Alaric.

ng in the woman's tone, something condescending, as if she didn't

ps he didn't care. "Yes, Melisa will b

session, made Melisa's stomach churn. She forced a polite

present. He was charming to everyone around him, the perfect host, the perfect business

irted with him, the way his attention seemed to linger jus

st a marriage

me. And she