age on her phone was still flashing on the screen, its warning sending a ch

er pocket before Damien could get a glimpse. "Why are y

ed like you were about to faint back there. Thought I

feigning nonchalance. "I

r, but it carried a dark promise. "You're hiding somet

at her to run. "Maybe I should remind you that you were the one in

gleaming with amusement. "Oh,

xhaled, her hands shaking slightly. Whoever had sent that text wasn

were safely with her friend Lillian, far away from Damien's reach. But for how long? She had known from

n. Another message fr

n't have much time. He

spiked. She typed

are you? Wha

aling a reply. Then, a si

If you don't t

eone knew about the twins. And if she didn't confess soon, Dami

e study, where Eleanor and Damien were waiting. The mom

instructed, her

est of the chair. Damien was leaning against the fireplace,

future," Eleanor began. "

llowed. "Wha

smooth but laced with steel. "We

blinked

umors. We need to control the narrative. That means p

ach twisted. "A

was icy. "That'

. But even as panic clawed at her chest, Scar

t about the twins... There woul

d to track down the unknown sender before they ruined everythin

out of the mansion to mak

s right b

as a low drawl, but she could

the panic rising in her chest.

oser, and the space between

asual shrug. "

hought he would snatch it from her hands. Instead, he leaned

"Goodnight, wife." His words carried a chilling edg

in her chest. If she wasn't careful, everything she had

would be at the

round the mansion. But Damien was everywhere-his presence, his lingering stares, his qui

something he hadn't done before. "You seem

xpression neutral.

the wine in his glass. "A

e head-on. "To

spoken words. Then, Damien leaned closer, his

ightened around her

d, leaning bac

another mess

dig deeper. If you don't tell

's blood

ll the time she had left befo

o make a

him h

one else do

And when it did, Scarlett knew-Dam

downstairs. His intense gaze locked onto hers the moment she entered the

asked, voice de

erself a cup of coffee. She could

oiding me,

before responding. "Maybe

arms crossed. "No. You're hiding so

e was getting too close to the truth. But c

t. And she was runn