BOUND BY THE BILLIONAIRE'S CONTRACT

m the pressure of keeping up the illusion, every smile and touch calculated to reinforce the image Damian needed. But, despite the tension, she had to admit

ifference between this life and her old one. It was hard not to feel out

," Damian's voice broke through her thoughts as he entered, shruggin

l nod. "I figured. I

"It was a good start. You adapted quickly. But there's stil

ut swallowed it down, reminding herself that she

but Zara sensed an undercurrent of somethi

liberate, as if he were in control of every action. Zara wondered how long it had taken h

f. She wasn't sure why she brought up his ex-fiancée, but the

ned, his jaw tensin

tching us," Zara said, choosing her

is tone was clipped, almost dismissive, but Zara

couldn't shake the curiosity Isabella had sparked. It was obvious that she and Damian

This arrangement isn't just a means to an end, Zara. If we're going to make

of frustration and defensiveness. "I tho

to it than what you did tonight. People like Isabella are going to question

nder of just how much she'd signed up for. "I under

ust as quickly, the steel returned to his ga

ting himself, setting walls around the parts of himself he didn't want her to see. But as she watched

ms of the penthouse and the formalities of her role as Damian's wife. Every morning, Kendra brought her a det

the act weighed heavily. She had kept her promise, maintaining the boundaries Damian had set. But despite

dress box and a small, printed card. She he

y tonight," Kendra announced. "This is the address, and

s family. She had known it would happen eventually, but the

t. "To them, you're Mr. Cole's wife, and nothing mor

e drifting to the dress

dly empathetic. "This life isn't easy, Miss Hart.

nd, but she managed a gratefu

ian's family home was a sprawling mansion, the kind she'd only ever seen in movies. She felt a wave of app

n sight. Instead, she was greeted by a warm-looking w

ife," she said, extending a h

s she took Evelyn's hand. "It's

room, her gaze softening. "Damian always had a taste

smile. "He...does lik

s always been a bit guarded, you know. Even as a c

er responses vague, knowing Damian's rules about privacy. But Evelyn's insights into his chi

lways. His gaze found Zara immediately, and she saw a flicker of surprise in his eyes-perhaps a

urning to greet her son. "Damian,

o a polite smile. "I'm g

over a lavish meal. Zara played her part, smiling at the right moments, nodd

ed, caught in a strange, surreal reality where she was the

ere. "You're good for him, Zara. I can see it. Damian has alw

dn't know the truth, couldn't possibly understand the contract binding them together. But hearing th

softly. "I...hope I ca

and a gentle squeeze. "I ha

new that everything she'd said and done tonight was part of a carefully crafted act. But sitting beside Dami

as she caught Damian's gaze out of the corner of her eye, she found herself wondering how much longer she c