ra's

il Lancaster's voice echoed in

rry

like a weapon, a strategic alliance, p

tains. The weight of it all pressed against my chest, the betraya

ter Secret Affair with A

sonal, It had beco

semi outcast? Funny isn't it? But.....it was like being offered a

f it was brilli

t out her mimosa

ng? Tell me y

aid, stirring

d for five years, who builds tech companies and ruins hedge fu

odd

ost toxic, Shakespearean, beautiful

I'm actually c

ad if you are not, I mean i

rebound. This was an alliance with a man who oozed power like second skin. A man

exactly what I n

estimated me, Seren

omething else entirel

I called the num

wered afte

how long it wou

said yes.

eed. "But yo

e ques

swer eve

y m

se you're the only one wh

me cold, I am

e to adore him, envy him, fear him. But you? You didn't need him to become someone, you made him

ght. "You've

h every

id it. Like he saw not just actions, bu

ou get out

a chance to remind Alexander that everything he touches

d m

"Power, and a throne they th

eting was in

Monochrome with splashes of deep navy and burnished brass. Like

watching me over th

e said. "Lines we won't

e wh

bluntly. "No expectations beyond what we agree

t I nodded. "What ab

ystery. This will o

d m

down. "We'll make

"What happens wh

hey'll know exactly how it

ng was fa

had a private estate, a discreet offician

ated, a beautiful lie sewn into silk and diamond. But b

no more beggi

I am the se

inal touches, grinn

she whispered, fastening my veil, "and m

sca

. "Because once this star

no cameras, just Jasail, sharp as a blade in his

ws wer

n," he said. "To shield your name, to elevate your p

mi

d. "To stop apologizing for my strength. An

n my finger, I felt the pa

iss. We did

y made the

gne on the rooftop of his penthouse. The skyli

in silence, his jacke

egret it?

I said

nreadable. "Good, because th

him. "What d

s Serena will try to twist the narrative. Alexander will try to win y

raid of the

now you're not a victim, you're a t

ran down

l hit them f

his glass, mir

wa

o