ould be. I tried the knob again, only to remember it was still locked. I sighed, ready to ask Ivan

eminded that he was still shirtless. The fact that I always felt a

in embarrassment. How much longer would I let my words get stuck in my throat whenever he was around? Without a word

y face brushing against his skin. Standing on the other side

dy known she was the one knocking. "Why did

he placed on "wife" and tried to pull awa

e with cold disdain. "The press isn't h

eyes met mine, and I couldn't ignore how much ta

with frustration. "You don't have to

ce steady and proud. "Isabel, isn't it o

n's words hung in the air. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing cam

t saying it for show. The warmth of his bare skin against mine sent a confusing m

ile. "You're really going through with this?" she asked, her voice

nyone aside. This is my choice, Isabel. Veronica is

wanted to speak, to say something, but the words stuck in my throat. In

venom in her stare. "You don't belong here. You're just

e, but before he could respo

myself to meet her gaze. "Because as far as I can see, you

ing more than a distraction for him. He'll get bored of

me from his hold, and for a moment, I

mly, his tone leaving no room for ar

th one last hateful look in my direction, she turned on her heel

od there, my heart still racing, unsure of what to

at girl can be so annoying sometimes," he mumble

the marriage, then what was I doing here? My mind raced with questions I wasn't ready to confront, but the pieces we

n's mother had already made it clear-this wasn't some grand romance or heartfelt connection. It was a

back at Ivan. My feet carried me toward my mother's room, but

n plastered on her face. "Can't you just leave already?" she s

wanted to complicate things between her and Ivan. But something about her smug expression, the way she

I'm the one making things complicated? Isabel, the whole

ss that wouldn't exist if you weren't here," she shot back. "Ivan and I were supposed to be

ught in the middle of a scheme that wasn't even mine. It was true that this marriage wasn't real, and t

r it to be the last, but this was too much for a girl wh