The Man She Had To Hide

agement

dy, the door slightly ajar. I was supposed to be walking past,

tone heavy with disapproval. "The contracts are already d

acts," Chris said. "I won't marry he

flooded my mind, a torre

before I marry her. My life is my own. A

He was willing to fight his family, to give up his inheritance, all for

hrough my chest, chasing away some of the col

years, I ha

old-fashioned. He would only leave the family business, a massive real estate empire, to a male heir. My father, having been

ndra bec

tment. I was taught to lower my voice, to walk with a confident stride, to suppress every feminine instinct. T

a series of changes I had to

it, Chris was

o playing sports. He just accepted me. When other kids made fun of me for not being "manly" enough

me feel real, even when I was li

same way. He was my anchor i

ixed with a fierce, burning determination. I couldn't let him throw his life

weeks. It would be a formal dinner, even bigger than my birthday pa

ld be th

s future was safe, I would be free. I would tell C

mind-reading thing... it was too new,

is found me in the gard

the bench beside me. "Sorry

ur fault," I

first, there was nothing but the chirping of cric

d I poured all my affection for him into a single thought.

wide. He looked at me, a fli

. For a second, it felt like... like Alex was speak

, not really, but he could fee

ss my face. I decided to

ght, "for someone who just blew up his

surprised laugh. "

ke I could fly. I'm free. I can finally just b

I could have ever imagined. It was a secret language, just betwee

with my shoulder. "It's pret

aze so intense it felt

low and serious. And in my head,

y becaus