se didn't fee
like a s
t to be comforting. The gravel drive stretched endlessly, flanked by sculpted hedges and stone fountains that whisper
d in her lap, watching the reflection of the
poken since the
ugh he hadn't just altered the course of her life. His silence was deliberate
finally
river said politely,
o
pped ou
e walls, tall windows glowing faintly from within, the structure elegant
car and moved to h
. Not if y
ins
ned before sh
nt, composed, eyes carefully lowered. A woman steppe
ood," she sa
ruck Ariella
Lucien said. "She
er head. "Your ro
r r
ur
at Lucien. He
a long corridor. "I
tly against marble floors. Ariella felt exposed, studied, even t
e a set of doors at
Ariella, opening one door. "And Mr.
blinked.
almly. "You'll ha
r more than the c
to pretend," s
," he replied. "I'm
moment, then e
ped into the
nimal decoration. It looked like a hotel suite-luxurious but tempo
k to Lucien. "
ton
tomor
watch. "Tomorrow,
tightened.
nnouncement schedu
at him. "Yo
joke abou
n't tell
didn'
and sudden. "Yo
otectin
g me into
es
"You don't get to
y. "That decision was mad
rt because t
oom, trying to regain control. Her suitca
fast," she
ty hand
rse th
her hair. "What exactly
l distance away. "That we married privately.
that'
r n
y. "You talk like t
t
in. "And what am
"You smile when required. You
in pr
"In private, you'r
ght her
earching for mocke
oing this?" sh
d. "Because walking a
hy
e reason I m
n't el
come easily
the unfamiliar quiet of a house too large to feel safe.
n slept as easily as
ckwood House wa
ants followed. Helena moved through it al
her hair, another her makeup. She barely recogni
diculous,"
sary," Hele
extravagance. No vulnerability. Something a billio
ed just as t
d when h
or a m
adable crossed
do," h
m a look. "
iella's stomach churned as the building came into view-c
ien said quietl
e a
a pa
oftly. "That'
ar st
oor o
expl
she couldn't distinguish. Lucien's hand settl
ch star
intimate-but becaus
ing her chin as they s
. He confirmed the marriage without el
turned
oze for ha
voice low enough only
e
eras at
reporter called out.
ucien's grip t
y," Lucie
y the s
la. "Because not everyt
holding it longe
when she
the s
oo still. Watchi
eyes
lid down
act, Lucien shifted
guiding her bac
nd the noise faded, A
s watching,
ession darken
caught. "
es
ll brought m
es
his would p
plied. "It conf
t him. "Conf
ategist, not as a billionaire-but as a
noticed you,"
ood ra
ppens now?"
s jaw t
find out how far the
r pull
alized the tru
wood didn't make
de he
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