ltering slightly as she met his gaze in the mirror,

eyes narrowing. "What exactly a

e talk, Rafael. They see how you look at her-how you never deny her presence in your life, e

masked it. "Alessa and I share history. We've known ea

over her. "I understand that, Rafael. I don't expect you to erase your past. But

e, Isabella? You knew what this marriage was-a duty, no

f. But I didn't marry you to be ignored, to be treated like a stranger in

spect? You want respect from me, Isabella? When you entered my life un

l I am? Some pawn in a family scheme? If that's how little you see me, then maybe you're right-you don

Rafael's gaze softened, almost imperceptibly, as if something she'd said had st

be seen, then prove to me that you're not just here for the benefits of

t threatened to overwhelm her. "I shouldn't have to prove

r heart was pounding, her mind racing with a thousand conflicting emotions. She had tried to reac

alive, that gave her purpose beyond this hollow marriage. She attended charity events, networked with people outside of Rafael's circle, even be

across the dinner table, she felt the ache of unfulfilled longing. She was trapped in a marriage that fel

s head bowed over a stack of documents. She hesitated in the doorway, watching him, feeling a str

been different?" she asked quietly, sur

s expression unreada

from trembling. "If we hadn't been forced into this. If... if maybe

se as he studied her. "Isabella, I told you fro

her voice barely above a whisper. "Or is that

looked away, his expression shuttered.

hat's the problem, Rafael. You're so focused on duty, on control

om her. "And what would you know about that?" he demanded, his voice low, intense. "You, who cam

stand the weight you carry, Rafael. But I do understand w

g in each other's anger, their frustration, the unspoken words that hung between them like a challenge. For a moment, she t

once more. "You're right, Isabella. We live in differ

the reality he'd laid before her. "I suppose that's the e

e'd given him everything she had, laid her heart bare before him, but it was as i

to stay, if she could continue living in a world where she

t either in the office or at high-profile events, his days filled with meetings and deals that took him farther

a humanitarian project abroad. It was an opportunity she couldn't ignore, a chance to escape the su

e distant as he reviewed a series of documents. She took a dee

a decision," she sa

is brow furrowi

received an invitation to work with an organiz

couldn't identify flashing across his face.

this, pretending that everything is fine when it's not. I need... I

might say something, might finally let down his guard and tell he

to do, Isabella.

old on to the last shred of dignity she had left. "Th

at filled her chest. She was finally breaking free, finally taking control of her own life. But as s

something vulnerable, something real. But it vanished as quickly a

of his life, leaving behind the man she had loved