Tangled in Deceit

the sheets still warm, the space beside her empty. She rubbed

the edge of the bed, but instead, Dominic was sta

lled softly. But

rating on the nightstand. With that, Olivia watched him stiffen

sitting up, feeling a sudden chil

er, then she pressed further as she bega

alk to me?" Her voice trembled yet firm as curios

ned, and his eyes were filled with something Ol

an instant beat. But before he could say anything, he stepped forward

ered as he began, but only for

ed. "What do you me

bed between them, and Olivia's heart dropp

he whispered, the room sud

" he said, his voice cutti

s her fingers grazed the papers inside, the w

choked out, her voic

aze darkening. "But

ead of connection between them snap. She ope

y, his back to her now, leaving her alone in the silence of the pe

he manila envelope trembling in her hands. The name BLACKWOOD HOLDINGS stared back at her

about last ni

memory: Dominic's warm laughter, the way he seemed so present when t

le evidence that everything she thou

A part of her wanted to run after him and demand answers, yell and scream. But another part-

eone who's alrea

elt like a costume she no longer wanted to wear. And as she zipped up the back, her eyes caught her reflection in the floor

her e

ce. There was a flicker of something else-anger, hurt, but also a spark of defi

r heels, grabbed her clutch, and left th

**

d just come alive. From the hum of morning traffic filled the air, to the coff

ys before finally unlocking t

d-in, with mismatched furniture and a faint smell of lavender from the candle she alw

with questions. What had Dominic meant when he said he wasn't married but would be soon? Was he engaged

s as her phone buzzed all of a sudd

g a message from Dominic, and had no idea wh

sn't him. It

" The message read as Olivia stared at the screen,

pent the night with a man who seemed perfe

e, "It was fine. I'll call you

to talk about D

the Manhattan skyline sprawling behind him. The usual hum of his assistant an

e, Olivia's name stil

ave let things

tly separated from everything else. But Olivia had torn through those walls in a sin

made a mess o

lackwo

thoughts. Dominic glanced up, his expres

you on line two. It's rega

sage," he s

. "They said i

" he snapped, his tone s

y and backed out of the room,

his chair as he began runni

family's legacy was tangled in more complications than he cared to admit

wasn't about love. It

emails, even cleaning the tiny kitchen counter, but nothing helped. Her thoughts kept circling back

rabbed her laptop and sank onto the couch. As the thoughts

ing to give her answers, she'd

his name into the search b

billions. A self-made mogul with a reputation for ruthles

as and charity events, but nothing about his personal relationships. Then, she s

ss Tied to Busin

nly to discover that the article was dated two months ago and spoke of an impending "strateg

ized this wasn't just a relati

ssed her, made her feel things she hadn't felt in years? And why had

as she slammed her lapto

Dominic Blackwood wasn't just

letting him get away with bre