d the walls of Adrian's estate loo

od at the doorway of her new life, her hands shaking. Her b

a few feet away, his eyes hardened with a bitterness

y, her voice barely above a whispe

tood still, staring at her as though s

hoved deep into the pockets of his tailored suit, but his post

"You'll be staying

ken aback. "What

ring away, his lips twisting into a sneer. "Yo

wouldn't be easy, that Adrian wasn't the same man he once was, but hearin

y; it was a prison sentence, and Adrian

th time, things would change. That perhaps Adrian would soften, that they could work through

than what it is, Lena. You and I...we're nothing. This marriage is a necessity, and the fact that it gives me

est felt tight, like her ribs were caving in on her heart

trembling despite her best efforts. "I know

harsh, bitter. "You want

stinctively going to her chest as if to shield herself from the blow she

old fury. "Don't act like you don't know why I hate yo

what to say. He had hated her since that night, since Victoria's death, and no matter how many

've tried to give you the benefit of the doubt. But the truth is, I know

ut Adrian cut her off with

pped. "I don't w

hundred times before? He wouldn't believe her, no

ed toward the stairs. "Put your things in the guest room,"

aking every step away from her, and it felt like she was slipping into quicksand

wondering how they had gotten to be here, two people who had been so close, now

guest room Adrian had given her, feeling very

e shifted, she couldn't get comfortable. She stared up at the ceiling

ective Adrian. The man who used to be her confidant and friend. But that man was gone, and his place w

ind was filled with Adrian's previous remarks, all of which were tinged with resentment and poison. "You can tell l

. For a moment, she thought it might be Adrian, but when the door slowly c

epping into the room. "I brought you some

e gesture didn't reach her ey

de table, her eyes sympathetic. "Is t

lancing down at her ha

ted to say more, but then she simply nodded an

ng the heat seep into her skin, though it did little to

che in her heart. Adrian's resentment toward her wasn't going to go away anytime soon, and the thought of

she could d