Disguised Desires: A Marriage to a Disabled Billionaire

, her fingers gripping the iron railing, her breath steady but shallow as she waited. The cold marble beneath her feet bit through her thin flats, an unnecessary reminder of the icy re

troduce her boyfriend, Jason, to her family. It was meant to be perfect. She imagined her father's nod of approval, her stepmother's dismissi

had a way of gett

and laughter that filled the parlor room. Jason had arrived just half an hour ago. She h

was poised like a queen on the opposite side of the room, her emerald-green silk dress pooling around her in an impossibly

Liliana, her heart plummeted. His back was to her, but it wa

d with saccharine sweetness. "

r eyes darted to Jason. He didn't move, didn't even seem

turn. Liliana raised an eyebrow, her smile

her. The expression on his face nearly knocked the air out of her lungs-guilt, laced with something else she couldn't

her stomach tighten. H

rts to stay calm. Jason didn't meet her gaze. Instead, he glanced at Liliana, and A

e innocence, "about the family business. You know, Aria, it's such a sh

throat dry. "I've told

mile widened. "He didn't kno

eyes for a fleeting second before he looked away.

e weight of the room crushing

and condescending. "Aria, darling, Jason didn't know about your... po

thing her father had made clear from the day she was born. Jason knew everything. He had been with her through th

the room and casually draped an arm over Jason's shoulder. "He d

p. "Jason, I told you-I told you that I wasn't go

didn't tell me everything. I didn't know... that you h

place, disbelief clawing at her chest. "That doesn't chan

ave more than this," he continued, his eyes flicking between h

ugh this was all some amusing little game. "Oh, Jason,

d in her ears. "Wha

clearly torn between his guilt and the sudden shift in his prior

ontrollable. "I've been with you for three years, Jason. We've talked about the future,

n't look

sharp as a blade. "You should consider yourself l

. Her chest constricted. "What

and Jason, her presence commanding as ever. "Your father has agreed that since Lilian

s barely a whisper now, her mind struggling to keep up w

to marry Damon Blackwood. But now, thanks to your little boyfriend here,"

room

ame whispered with fear and awe in high society-rumors of his immense wealth, his reclusiveness, hi

ontract was signed long ago. It was originally for Liliana, but ci

heart s

is face again, but it was clear he wasn't going

oice trembling with desperation. "You're telling me I have to

er. "Oh, don't worry about that, darling. You'll learn

't happening. It couldn't be. She had spent her entire life clawing for just a

her chest heaving with the effort it took to hold bac

il now, finally spoke, his voice low an

a death sentence. Her entire body felt cold, her

ooking down at the floor. He di

her voice breaking

dn't meet

zed she had lost everything-he

had bee