Shadows of an Arranged Heart

h the room. I thought I told you not to snoop. Her hands trembled a

than she'd ever seen. The fire crackled behind him, casting ominous shadows

" His voice was lo

trying to sound calm, but

through the pages, his expression tightening as th

onto the couch. "Curiosity is dangerous, Olivia. Yo

outburst. "You demand my obedience, you drag me into this worl

For the briefest moment, Olivia thought she saw a flicker of something else regr

steel. "This isn't about what you des

pressed, stepping forward.

e silence. "There are people out there who would do anything to s

by an icy chill spreading through her veins. "Wh

. "You don't need to k

I..

gh to make her flinch. He stepped closer,

If you want to survive this

at the door shattered the tension. Damie

e, his face tense. "Sir, the car

Olivia asked, her voice

on and turned to the man.

bbed his coat from the back of a chair and turned to Olivia

d respond, the heavy door c

s she stared at the closed door. Stay in your lane? Damien had no right to treat her like some helpless pa

to herself. "I won't

er curiosity burned hotter than her fear. If she was going to survive this marriage,

words Steele Investments Confidential glared back at her like a warning. Flipping

tes. Tran

f her father's company. Lines of debt and failed ventures were scribbled acros

his can't

d believed. But according to these papers, Steele Investments had been on the brink of

ed her upright, her hear

led from the other si

y, she stood and edged tow

, low and urgent. "Damien sent m

ld her not to trust anyone, not even his men. Her instincts screamed a

he door! Damien

ndle t

hed in her hand. The door creaked open, and the man she recognized as Marc

ing?" he demande

p her voice steady. "I? nothing

his expression darkening.

the fireplace, calculating her options. Befo

e the f

She staggered backward, her heel catching on the edge of the rug

his face shadowed. "You

ith a crash. Damien stood in the doorway, his icy ga

ay from