the jail?" Adrian's voice was rather calm, as if he were asking her out to d

e disappear from there. But she

to find her way out of the s

ice steady and her eyes pleading for him to give her

hange. Not a look of pity, n

rds kept repeating in her head. Marry him? She t

d be other options I can do, other things I can repay you with. But marry you?" A look o

u tried to steal from me, and it's my choice to do whatever I desire with you. D

aware

can have a say in what punishment I see fit to g

udacity hasn't

tion. "You can't just force me into a marriage

chuckled.

ou!" She exclaimed,

t that, you silly wench?" He yelled at her in

he made decisions, and it pissed him off as t

e is ruined, including your sister's, if that really is true. Or

nger and the anger flaring in her chest. "That's a prison sent

ust from head to toe and back to

ides anger appeared in his eyes, but it was gone as

last there for not less than a year. But this marriage I'm

otection, and a way out of whatev

fter a brief silence, "

little, sarcasm dripping in her voice. "

A business partner. This is busin

ess pa

where he was. "You'd act as my wife for six months, for the sake of the public, and it'll take mar

." She shook her head and muttered, though loud enough for him to hear, "You r

ime hearing those words. "Maybe. But

n out of her. She hated him, but she knew refusing him would only make thin

d Adrian's face, but it was gone almost immediately. "I never g

right in front of her. He reached out, his fingers brushing the edge of her gown by the shoulder.

pine. It was like he was torturing her with his touch, as i

ay strand of her hair into place behind her ea

tween them and the heat from his bo

was intense. For a brief moment, she saw a flash of hunger and desire

ping away the small smudge of lipstick on her lower lip. The action felt intimate,

ips curled into a small, wicked smile, and he spoke with a low voice. "Yo

as her heart rate fastened. S

softly, her eyes

e heat of his breath on her skin. Without thinking, her eyes flutt

he d

cause I can see the effect I have on you, just like I

lt of electricity through her. It wasn't just what he said, but the

d closed the distance, Adrian step

down his suit, the pict

just turned her world upside down. He extend

d deepened with want, but he was only toying with her, picked up her purse and gathered its content

." She sim

ere at the far end of the hall, while Adrian went straig

motioned to the bandleader to stop

upt halt, everyone's eyes turned to

Ladies and gentlemen, now to the highligh

lled with anticipation. Olivia, on the other

ge smile on her face as she watched him speak. A few of her friends were with h

e else across the room, had

g at the corner of his lips. "I've had this in mind for a whil

he readied herself for her mome

urned my life around, the one who has sho

small step forward, eager to go to the stage soon, as soon as she'

rian did th

or him, he walked down the hall, passing Cecilia, much to her shock. He got to

e loud and clear for everyone in th

lmost at the same time was deafening. The shock was written

hurt, as the realization hit her. Her hands, which had been smoo

nt, replaced by a look of fury so int

st like it could explode at any time, Olivia whisp

room onto her ring finger, the crowd erupting into applause and screams of joy. He pulled her into an un

e scene she had just witnessed. She turned ar

did her mother, while her

throwing daggers at Adrian, who was now looking at her from

done?" she seethed, her