Vows in the Shadows
r coffee table like a silent intruder. She had barely slept, her thoughts a whirlwind of disbelief, anger, and curiosity. Every time she tried to
ed at the screen: an unknown number. Her instinct
she said
kable voice sent a jolt through he
ter. "You can't seriously
anged a meeting to go over everything. N
ted, but he had
ing his motives-and perhaps finding a way to turn him down on her terms-was too strong to igno
p floor was silent, the air thick with anticipation. When the doors opened, Amanda was greeted by a sharply dressed a
er as he stared out at the city. He turned
said, gesturing to a leathe
efensively. "I'm not agreeing t
usement. "Of course. But you deserve to hea
e hesitated before opening it, her eyes scanning the document's
riage. During that time, you'll receive a substantial monthly allowance, ful
up to meet his.
financial constraints," he said, his gaz
able to create again, without the constant pressure o
public events as my wife, maintain the appearance of a stable m
eyes catching on a section labeled
more. We'll maintain separate living spaces within the same residence,
owed. "And what hap
lk away with the financial security to pursue your drea
kin crawl. "Why do you even need this? Wha
en, he said, "My family's position in certain... circles requires stability.
hinted at deeper dangers. "And you couldn'
he said simply. "You're an outside
lated, almost impossibly rational. And yet, there was something in Leonardo's eyes-a
. "You're asking me to put my life on hold, to live in y
. "Freedom. The kind you've never had. The chance
g hours at the gallery, and the dreams she'd buried under the weight of pra
refuse?"
y world has already touched yours, Amanda. Whether you like it or not, you're in the shado
chilled her. "Is
quietly. "One I wish yo
r scraping against the polished
rising as well. "But know this: the longer yo
rned to her apartment, her head was spinning. She spread the contract across her kitchen table, reading
stant stars. Leonardo Castelli was a man of many layers, and she had barely scratched the s
message from an unknown number.
ck is t
stakes even clearer. But beneath the cold logic of it all, she sensed something else-an undercurr
s she stepping into his world
rned off the light, leaving the