fell silent. The last of the guests had depa

osened his tie, the last vestige of his public persona falling away. His eyes, cold and predatory, scanned the room, searching fo

e bare. The sile

ssing them onto a glass tabletop. The sh

feeling heavy and suffocating. The room was larger than her entir

whiskey into a crystal tumbler and drank it down in one smooth motion. The lack of th

voice. It came out as a dry

e of her dress to the tired lines on her face. It was a look of pu

his lips. "You really think you'

the force of a slap. The b

d threw it onto the coffee table in front of her. It sl

me was on the cover. She didn't need to open

opping to a lethal chill. "Did you think the ceremony wo

red, her body trembling wit

ing her to look at him. His touch was rough, bruising. "You think I don't know what your

so wrapped in his own narrative of betrayal, that any explanation would be p

line, she shoved him h

g. His face contorted with fury. He took a step back,

s face flashed in his mind. His grandfather was withholding the pri

umber and put

egarding Evans Corporation. If the delivery I'm expecting isn't made by dawn, we execute

e, on their wedding night, he was setting th

" she screamed, lun

ssion one of cold, cruel triumph. This wasn't just about her; it was a messa

, "do you understand

tail of emotions exploded inside her. Bu

k, narrowed into slits of ice. Her fear

urned. She yanked open the

his cursed deal. If Alaric was going to break the terms,

ess tangled around her legs as she spr

d staircase, gasping for breath

re a silk dressing gown, a glass of red wine in he