Marrying my enemy

t of Rael's sleek black SUV. The tension in my shoulders refused to ease, my jaw aching from the hours of forced smiles. Rael sa

e city's chaos. Inside the car, the quiet hum of the engine was the only sound, bu

l, "now that the whole world knows we're a

lowly, narrowing m

blend of amusement and arroganc

heard. Then, with deliberate slowness, I leaned back aga

e a care in the world, one hand draped across his k

nd what makes you think I'd be the one

expression bordering on incr

f you said so, then clearly, it must be

won. "What's the big deal? You've seen my house. It's perfect f

tch. I'm sure your mansion is as excessive as you are. But

he briefest second before he laughed, the s

leaning in to meet his gaze.

y want me to

I said, br

"I've heard about your apartment, Amara.

no bounds, doesn't it? First, you insist I move in wi

etheart," he said with a shr

the truth. The announcement of our so-called engagement had already made waves. Moving in together would solidify

word tasting like ash in

ory gleaming in his eyes.

w and dangerous as I leaned closer. "Living with m

, almost genuine. "Oh

the windows. The cool evening air hit me like a slap, clearing the fog of his presence from my mind. I strode toward the e

inger. It sparkled under the streetlights, deceptively beautiful-a symbol of

And I was dete

___

e like shadows, packing my life into boxes and suitcases with silent efficiency. The room, once a reflecti

efore I stepped into Rael's mansion and surrendered what little was left of m

orner loomed like a silent declaration of defeat. Turning away from the sight, I sought ref

hed, her eyes sharp with c

and the board members," I said, trying to mask my emotion

pen down and folded her hands. "Yes. Albert's relentless. He sees this sca

before my father's death, he'd wanted my position. Now, with the company's reputation hangi

d. "It's possible. He has motive, and he's been

idea what I was willing to risk to keep what was mine. "I want you to dig into everything-his connection

aid, "I'll keep them

y chest coiling tighter. "I can't a

ening. "Amara," she said quietly, "are you s

w how I felt about him-how his arrogance cut deep, how his presence grated on my every nerve. Rael

't care what he thought, the truth was harder to

a moment, my words clipped. "The only

ng your space with him? You

e with it. But if living under his roof is what it takes

t she didn't argue. She knew me well enou

later," I said, already headin

ked, frowning.

self to elaborate. The ache in my chest was st

-

and unwelcoming. The air was heavy with the kind of silence that made every sound feel

Rael?"

Vesper," she murmure

ble floor echoed in the cavernous space, the only sign of life in a house too large and t

andle. A prickle ran up my spine, unbidden and u

gree

iscarded folders. And in the center of it all sat Rael, slouched in his chair with a bottle dang

un

in control, was a drunken wreck. It wa

lingly soft. His lips curled into a slow, laz

tering to the floor. His steps toward me were uneven, his towering frame almost swayin

y on his breath, his presence overwhelming in its intensity. For th

far more danger

the chaos behind him. "What

e space between us with a purpose that made my stomach twist. One of his hands gripped my wrist, firm but not pai

ing down on my chest. I opened my mouth to demand an explanation, but the words stuck in

ling off his lips with a softness

m. "You're drunk," I said, "And whatever this is-this

gh to keep me rooted in place. "A show?" His voic

. "Isn't that what you do best-manipulate, p

, bitter smile. "And here I

ull back, but his thumb brushed along the inside of my elbow, a slow, deliberate movement that sent a shiver up my arm. It was

ked, betraying the uncertainty I

y from my ear. "Trying to figure out why," he said, "Why I keep helping a

velvet. My breath hitched as his proximity set my nerves alight. He

" I shot back, trying to inject steel int

against my skin. "Maybe," he murmured.

vement brought us even closer. His gaze held mine, an unspoken bat

aim some distance, though his words had already unsettled me

ething that almost felt... real. "This is the so

hould get some sleep. Tomorrow, you can go back

ng to escape the heavy air in the room and the way

d just as I reach

didn't turn a

you," he said, the rawness cutting. "And even less of

ening. I didn't trust myself to respond, so I ste

ed into fists. His words looped in my

d him. But the way my chest ached, the way my skin burne