BOUND BY LIES :A BILLIONAIRE CONTRACT BRIDE

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as being cruelly hauled across every channel and gossip website. My gut felt an empty hole, split between sympathy and a sharp feeling of justice.

lla's voice, sharp and scornful, which broke through the suspense. "You like thinking a lot, don't y

her angular face and how her eyes gleamed with laughter behind her spectacles

ough I'm told my jokes are a matter of taste." She came nearer, her eyes da

ioned, crossing my arms defensively acr

d out whether you have fallen passionately in love with me. She bent forward, her voice lower

d an eyebrow. "I believe your maste

somber. Now enough about me. Allow me to

eighing down on me. I s

to examine me. You r

?" I shot back, my wrath abl

not, I do worry. Though you might believ

meet her eyes. You don't

u are a pawn in a game you never decided to participate in. And you

e. Fighting the tears that threatened to come, I

o know you're not as powerless as you think." An

n, his presence sucking all the oxygen out of the chamber. "Am

thing at all, Master." A tiny girl's conversation is just. She winked at

ind her. Alan's gaze fixed on me, his face inco

nge? I asked, us

ried some sharpness. He drew in, stopping just a few

this was hea

ce attention. "What do you suppose

fully and sucked hard

e, as though he were evaluat

?" My irritation was bubbling over,

grin. You are here since yo

how much, the words ached. And wh

eyes, his smile became wider

om appeared to shut in around me, the walls g

he leaned back, his countenance once more incomprehensible. "perha

o. " Oh, and one other thing. Leave Stella be

fell into the bed. Every conversation with Alan made me feel more caugh

er. The only sound of the soft whispering wind outside made the m

, his voice low and contemptuous. "You

I backed off. "What a

e said, a risky glitter in hi

d reply. Elias's attitude changed quickly, all signs of ridicule vanishe

ety, I followed, staying in the shadows. Alan's studies h

ehind me, facing a man I couldn identify from his back. Thou

threaten me? Alan spok

us sound. Walker, I do not need you threa

steries? His topic o

the door's crack. Panic seized me. Heart pounding, I staggered back but

t?" He insisted, his

hing," with

r by grabbing my

n, k

to know my secrets?" "Be cautious, Ariel, wh

the first time I understood exactly how far