ar

what I'd overheard. His voice, muffled but clear enough, rang in my ears-discussions about business and secrets, thin

ill be hiding

t afford to slip. Not when I was so close to setting everything in motion. I had to bide my time, be patient, l

reath, scrambling to silence it before Aaron heard. But it was too late. The door creak

his tone casual, but I kne

t. I could feel the weight of his stare lingering on me, like he di

nly oppressive in the narrow hallway. "You alright?" he a

ayals, and the endless charades, the Aaron I once loved still existed. But then I remembered. I remembere

hroat. "Yeah, I'm fine. I was just coming to tell you the maid h

as weighing whether to agree or not. For a moment, I th

let him see the storm brewing behind my composed exterior. The dining room felt colder than usual, or maybe it was just me. I couldn't tell anymore.

ver. What else was he hiding? What was that thing I shouldn't find out? Did I really know Aaron like I claimed or was there another mask he was wearing that I did

e unreadable. "Is everything al

e almost made me falter. Almost. "Just thinking about some things," I r

sk more, but he didn't. He never did. He'd always been good at playing

. I frowned, pushing back my chair and standing up. "I'll get it," I said qui

unease settled in the pit of my stomach.

ok that was equal parts concern and disappointment. Her presence hit me like a

d her about the state of things with Aaron, and t

ng for an invitation. She scanned the hallway, her eyes la

ted to see me in this sham of a marriage. She had high hopes for me once, and looked where I'd end

re?" I asked, trying t