Shadows of an Arranged Heart

art of. She stood stiffly in her father's study, clutching the edges of her sweater as though it could shield her from the storm brewing i

y way out," he said, his

erhaps in his early thirties. Sharp cheekbones, piercing blue eyes, and an aura of absolute control surrounded him like an invisible

ed, disbelief coloring every syll

d to his hands, which

only thing keeping us from bankruptcy. Damien has offere

to face Damien directly. For the first time, she saw a

is none of yo

deep, authoritative, with an edge

ed, I always ge

o, she had been living a simple life, working at the local art gallery and dreaming of a future far removed from her

siness games," Olivia hiss

e was another way, I'd take it! Do you think I'd

he looked back at Damien, who sat motionless, as though the heated argum

teele?" Damien's voice c

ave an a

e thought of her mother, long gone, and her father, broken by years of failed ventures. Most of all, she thought of h

s gaze. There was no warmth there, only

hispered. "I'

s lips curved into a faint,

with dread, she couldn't shake the feeling tha

cold. "Oh, and Miss Steele?" he called out. She turned slowly

his is just a marriage. You've s