BOUND BY LIES :A BILLIONAIRE CONTRACT BRIDE

el'

I tried to back off, my feet would not move.

en he bent in, his breath warm against my ear. "If you want to survive here

nce more frigid and deta

lethal-deadly even. And I found myself sandwiched in the middle of it all. One t

the mirror. My eyes were wide with terror; my face was p

or the fights ahead. Opening it carefully, I discovered one single

age I couldn't ignore, even though I didn't g

e, I was deeper than I had ever dre

elief and anger. Relief because the facade was exhausting; anger because I was forced to live it every da

en are you going to tell your wife? That you can wal

are. "That's none of

rd. "Master doesn't need to reveal anything to the

ed. "Not everyone is a spy like you were,

ias's face. He had betrayed us once, and though he had

ugh the tension. "I'll decide what Ariel needs

t had become a silent symbol of my supposed weakness and picked up

nd nodded before leaving. I turned to Stella

igue, she's in good health. But there was something odd. He

rowed. "Diff

adopted or... something else. I'll dive

elves for now." I ignored her;

wrath pouring off her. She plopped down on the couch, tapping her feet with

er voice shrill. "That deal was supposed to be m

urged, pacing. "I thought you had

ough now. She made a smirk. "Everyone thinks they can walk all over m

ger added, attempting to seem reasonable. "Withou

ria broke off. "I'll

hout thinking about her face mask missing. He

art of the hall. The red-haired one pointed for her friends to follow, sporting a predatory

nsettled me with something about which I detested. She was a pawn, nothing more than that; still, I couldn

f by a quiet knock on th

ialized behind her before she co

mous Superstar Maria Edgar, Supposed to Be Married, Seen

fore sensed blood. Though I expected as mu

asked, worried fli

ice harsh. Find out who leaked this

sponded, bending befo

rcumstances falling on me. Ariel was a riddle, a portion I had n

head. I didn't know him; one moment far away, then shockingly intense. But right now I couldn't fix that. More

need of

a's hallways, listening for any indication. I then he

the news?" o

red. "The family is really fu

versation was what? A hand clamped over my mouth, draggi

ured. He whirled me around, propelling me against the wall. His

... I stammered whi

h warm on my flesh. "Ariel, c

y giving way to defiance. "

he might strike me. He laughed, nevertheless, a low, bi

?" I insisted, my voice falter

I want you to remember your place." And to k

reply. One idea burned in my head as I watched him vanish into

and the villa was in a frenzy. Alan was called to an emergency conference with

Maria's fall be public, what would happen to me? I had to guard

ould intervene. Stella stood there with a pale fa

s I asked, tum

" she replied with a shaking voice

. I paused briefly, then followed, heart thumping. I knew one thing fo