t my husband, he di

od Manor. I sat in the back seat with my fingers wrapped tightly around the marriage c

d by towering trees and iron gates th

g the estate beyond. The Blackwood Ma

ns lined the driveway, their water shimmering beneath the rain. The mansion sat at the

rd. "Do people ac

"Some survive it

th the grand entrance, a servant opened my door, and c

t?" Richard

stepped out into the

d in a black suit with one hand tucked into his po

e in a way I couldn't describe. He glanced at me for exact

throat. "Miss Bennett,

d the empty ro

N

s? Priest?

shifted awk

ly. "Wow! Romance

, Ethan didn't react and the la

gn, the marriage beco

owly I picked up the pen, my h

Ben

to Ethan and without hesitat

Blac

ratulations. You're offi

iately. "Richard, sh

. "Wait,

t me. "What exactly

, maybe an ac

t supposed

urned and walked away. I stare at him, watching his broad sho

usly leave ten second

r. Blackwood isn't

ear

and motioned toward the

first. Portraits of people I'd never met lined the wa

f a large white door.

partment. Moonlight spilled through the windows illuminating shelves

room?" I

"Welcome to Bl

afraid to sit

lored envelope. "Mr. Blackwo

nside was a singl

Blackwo

ver enter th

k questions about

r forget that th

oss sounds like he e

ghed this time and t

ai

e door. "Why did

tened. "I'm afraid that's a

stared at the ring on my finger. I pulled out my ph

how to ride a bicycle and another of

uld Dad say if he saw me now? Would

wandering the mansion for nearly ten m

someone was alre

of coffee. He looked up when he heard me ente

rator just to avoid

Do you always marry stran

p of coffee.

rabbed a bottle of water. "You know, most p

on the counter.

redible p

ed toward me. "Y

he counter. "Can I

can

y m

ed instantly. "You s

not an

nly one you

e scent of his cologne, something seductive and

m. "What an unbel

said from behind me, "

he doorway, a knowing smile on his face. "You

ame to check if yo

d be nice. Or maybe a map.

led. "You get

hed aw

*

iet, the creak of the floorboards made me sit up

. I climbed out of bed and walked toward the w

leep in our tiny apartment, and somew

tranger. A soft sound pulled me from my

was empty. But at the far end, I caught a glim

I quietly followed. He stopped in front of a

the lock. The sound echoed through the empty hallway but

for a moment, neither of us moved. Then his

you doing

arms. "I co

through dark hallways see

y a stranger anymo

to the door. "

that conc

is becoming y

u keep asking the

epped inside, before closin

k to be

l seconds and that's when I noticed something on

d a smiling woman with dark hair standing beside a teenage

the

ind the door. The footsteps continu

side of the door, Ethan's voice cut through th

Blac

fr

open this door..." The handle began t