he ran. Down the long, winding driveway of the Pennington estate, her cheap wedding

ight a beacon in the oppressive darkness. She flagged it down, tum

entrance of the hotel, her disheveled appearance going

She needed to see

ght her eye. Carter's personal assistant, a nervous yo

shoe. Barefoot and silent on th

cked his phone, and then moved on. The heavy m

ld wall, her heart a frantic drum ag

rd a low, feminine g

e, thick with arou

tilted o

atisfaction. "That pathetic housekeeper's daughter is f

incerity. "The engagement to Amara... it was just business. Her research data from t

five-year relationship, the shared dreams, the promises... all re

like it was fille

peer through the narrow gap b

ned itself in

lla pinned against the marble vanity. Bella's dress was hiked u

muttered, his lips against Bella'

cruel, sharp sound. "She's trash.

raction from the agony ripping through her chest. She tasted blood. S

bright. She opened the camera, switched it to video, and held it up to the crack in t

ntrollably. She leaned against the cold, unforgiving wall, fo

eplaced by a glacial calm. The pain was still there

. It was about Carter's ambition. He wanted the Beaumont name, the Wa

ed each other. Two parasites, feeding on lies. They w

r posture straight, her head he

miss?" the

er voice steady. "To t

ing a pool of light on a massive oak desk. He was sitting in a high-backed

with dry amusement. He swirled the liquid in his gla

sian rug. She stopped in front of the desk and looked down at him. His legs were cross

ry move. "Are you tired of living?" he asked,

ecure cloud server, and then deleted the original. She pl

id, her voice clear and str

forward, the leather of his chair groaning softly. "You're in no posit

opportunities. "You need a wife. A wife with no powerful family, no connections, no agenda. A ghost. Someone to be a placeholder, a shield, to

our family or your company would make a move for power. You need a wife who won't get i

re deep and unreadable, like the bottom of the ocean. H

was supposed to marry... they've all betrayed me. I have nothing and no one. That makes me t

face. It was the first time she had s

r than your si

" Amara replied, the

ience. We maintain the public appearance of a devoted couple. In private, we lead

ly," Ama

of a powerful dynasty, they sealed their dangerous pact. Not