ed Leonel with narrowed eyes. The tension in the room was suffocating, thick with unspoken resentment and reluctant

across from her, legs crossed, one arm resting lazily against the chair's

ng the silence, "why ar

, cold and calculating. "Fo

"Oh? And what

s voice was calm, matter

, as if it was nothing more than a simp

d've refused. You're Leonel Aldric. Your family might be powerful

sidering her words. Then he smirked-just b

t, here

just another puppet in his family's power games, much like she was

really going to go through with this

mirroring her posture

. "I don't ha

e're th

avering. It wasn't comfo

e couch. "Fine," she said. "We'll get married.

ment flickering across his otherwise s

m going to make your life a living he

suit pocket and pulled out a sleek, silver pen. He twir

finished?

jaw. "No, actually

sed an eye

with this sham of a ma

ing mildly amused but s

uple in public, but behind closed doors, I don't want

mply watched her, his expression givin

to agree so easily. "T

d a wife. That arrangement works for me,"

ed her eyes.

u do not humiliate me in public. You can hate me all you want

words. He wasn't asking for love, or

e said, cros

nded a hand

for a moment be

led her hand away quickly, suddenly feeling a

I'll have my assistant send over the paperwor

ed. It was happening.

e was no