HIS FIRST WIFE NEVER LEFT

od there beside our wedding bed, holding a photograph of

om my wedding ring to Lucien behind me. "You married a wid

nds, I just st

ing over one shoulder. She wasn't startled or nervous about being in Lucien

hree years ago in a tragic accident, with half the country's rich and powerful at her funeral. The newspapers called it a heartbreak, a

off his cufflinks, but he'd frozen, his jaw clenched. Not sur

abe

er name li

s it? Three years, and you'

eception just twenty minutes ago. I was drained from all the smiling for cameras, the en

t awkwardly, sure-

st? Absol

whispered, "

s to me. "Go down

d him right. Your dead wife appears at our

e to leave

this more difficult

ry, I missed the part in the wedding plans

. "First wife," she repe

her a look

, setting the photograph down on the d

d he explain why you h

lders, chin up. "

, all cold amusement. "Loo

: "Leave her

uld've been honest with her befor

ed at him. Nothing about thi

n his company's financial report while his lawyers sulked. Most men of his power would ignore a woman who picked apart

fer: marry me for a year, satisfy some legal conditions for his comp

ted hard, brought my own lawyer. I had no interest in being another thing fo

lize honesty might've been the mo

get in?" Lu

ty still remembers me. Seems not everyon

not an

nough o

ed toward the

old her abo

hed, the sort who could probably threaten you with a smile. I remembered his toast-praising Lucien for finally finding

up his uncl

through. "Because your husband's been protecting

n his voice. "You don't know

ay, calm as ever. "If so, why are

that usual cool. "People died th

e. Ice

eople died because someone wa

nd-that small, flinching move

ped forward. "Enough. I want an

ion softened a little, but t

are things you d

xplain

t h

ws more than you

w tigh

ooting them out of balance sheets. All the little signals-evasions,

ienne Moreau. I hadn't seen it in fourteen years, not since his last birthday card before he vanished. My mom kep

t, he'd wri

ent

her. "Where did

ave it to some

ho

n't matter

tters

sk your husband why your father's records

mach c

en, voice shakin

plied, "Your father worked

not what

enti

know my

ot long, b

es

r in the r

g have y

ickered. "L

and neve

find out what h

ing to marry

I had reasons for

ide me cracke

ce lower. "I never mea

not an

hispered.

ilent, maybe watching

letter. Lucien mov

t ope

voice was soft,

his hand, the

hy

't know who els

sed to make m

"I'm asking yo

to stop deciding what

emony, the way his thumb brushed my knuckles when he put the ring on.

d ever been looking at me-o

e in my hand. "Your fath

to my chest.

I'd seen anything real from her

through. "That's

"You haven't told

ea

r for her fathe

al. He gave none. He just stared at Isabella with a coldness that m

t of my

will. But before I go, Valen

and on the doo

. My death was registered, and he thought I was gone. But someone m

ked rig

e who says my deat

er your husband has promised you, remember this: your father v

closed be

ching the envelope

Give me the letter, Valenti

pped

N

enti

ting your family. You knew something about her death

now Isabell

ew enough t

ever he'd been holding

. "Tell me honestly, Lucien. When you proposed, did

moment, I thought he

he said

d hurt more tha

rn away before

ed-a message from

YOUR HUSBAND IS NOT THE ONLY DEVEReUX

wice. Then

BELLA REALLY CAME BACK, ASK ADR

t Lucien. He stared

d just married was trying to keep me safe fr