"Tangled Desire"

The room was filled with expensive suits, elegant gowns, and the hum of forced pleasantries. But amidst the glittering crowd, o

a simple but stunning white gown, her pale skin and dark hair framed her face delicately, but her expression was a mask of neut

e-blue eyes scanned the crowd, his jaw tight and his posture stiff. His expression, as always, was unreadable, but th

ppease the family, to ensure the future of his child. Tha

s he recited the words he had no emotional investment in. Kiana's heart sank with every syllable. His indifference w

n't love Kiana, nor did he want her, and that truth cut deeper than anything she'd ever known. She had no illusions about his feelings toward her. Sh

nt echo. Her gaze flickered to Austin, expecting nothing-nothing at all. But the weight of his presence beside her was suffocating. She wanted to

in it. Not even a flicker of affection. As they passed by the guests, Kiana could feel their eyes on her, but not in the way a b

-

iscussing business matters, his face a mask of practiced politeness. He barely spared Kiana a second glance, thou

orcing herself to eat. Her mind wandered as she tried to calm her nerves. Was this really h

wasn't his first choice, wasn't even his second. She was the one who had been thrust into

ed to this. Beca

, sharp and dismissive. "You should at least pretend to be interested

ke-his attention was still directed elsewhere, at some other woman or conversation. She tried to keep her expression neutral, t

lied softly, keeping her gaze fi

this-ruthless, detached. The man who didn't care about the bond they were supposed t

the ache that was slowly eating away at her. This

-

nt of respite. The night air was crisp against her skin as she walked across the manicured gardens, the full moon casting

out from the open doors, but it was all distant, foreign, as if none of it be

d her and didn't need to

silhouette sharp and defined against the pale light. He didn't say a

g?" he asked, his t

cool glance. "Fine," she replied, he

fine. It nev

use you're here to *take care* of my son, not to play some princess at a ball. Do

it show. "I know," she said, her voice

to measure her, but then he turned away, walking back

ht of her new reality settling

s her li

ld never love her. A life where she w

rt of her-just a tiny sliver of hope-wondered what would happ

on she could not answ

-