Engagement To My Billionaire Ceo

iltered through the east wing of Blackthorn Manor, highlighting the dust motes dancing in the

cking me. "Annual Salem Historical Preservation Gala," it read, a name

e door, which Gideon had delivered earlier with a note

effects as he navigated his imaginary world. I smiled at the sight of him,

hile tonight, kiddo," I

brow furrowed. "Wh

y," I replied, tryi

ackthorn g

es

going t

ard. "Probably not. It's more

y my answer. "You should d

, ruffling his h

stunning-a floor-length navy gown that clung to my curves in all the right places, with delicate beading that shi

s subtle but undeniable. His eyes flicked over me,

te," he said, his voic

I repeated, arc

ugh his lips twitched in a way that su

," I shot back, grabbing my

re. Gideon was composed, his sharp suit and tie impeccable, while I fiddled with

andeliers and impeccably dressed guests made my breath hitch. It wa

s he placed a hand on the small

es. The sound of laughter and clinking glasses filled the air, and I forced a

he said smoothly, his tone so convin

le gushed over our "engagement." It was exhausting, but I refused

to feel more comfortable. A woman named Evelyn, dressed i

lackthorn Manor, aren't you?" she

ed, surprised

p. "It's such an important part of Salem's history. It's wond

for more than just my connection to Gideon. We talked for a while about the manor, about my plans

Gideon said quietly as

him, startled.

low but sincere. "You're holding you

o that, so I simply nodded,

ughing at one of Gideon's sarcastic remarks as we stood near the

the music

ving toward the dance floor. I watched as the elegant figures

eon asked, hold

heart skipping a b

k like I'

ks from the other guests. There was no way

aced my hand in his. "I'm g

them," he said, a faint s

my waist as we began to move. To my surprise, he was an ex

fore," I said, narro

" he admitted,

n me, but his grip steadied m

quietly. "I won

chord deep within me. For a moment, I allowed myself

something in his expression. It wasn't his usual cold detachment or calculat

d, unsure of what I

sh, the music ended, an

rmly back into place. "You did well,"

d, my voice quiete

nd long after we returned to the manor. As I lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling, I

't fully understand, it

9: Walls

life of its own after dark, its long corridors stretching into shadows and its creaks and groans whispering stories I

ts, his expression unreadable. It was rare to see him like this, without the

k?" he asked finally, hi

ered, not looking

tepped into the room, the firelight cast

th a grace that only someone like Gideon Blackthorn could manage. For a

he asked, brea

tion. "Mrs. Talbot taught him how to make coo

d, as though the conc

e tugging at my lips. "They're a swe

e leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and f

y mother," he said quietly, th

ure how to res

. It was one of the few things she did purely for herself

re was a heaviness in his ton

d to her?" I

id, his expression hardening slightl

spered, the words

usual arrogance. "It's life. People come,

coming more apparent with every word he spoke. "Is tha

lace. She used to say it was the heart of our family. But after she died, it

continue. "He wasn't a kind man. To him, the manor wasn't a hom

nsing that he was already giving m

d. "What does it

es I think I keep it because I don't know how to let it go. Other ti

than I wanted to admit. "Le

his gaze soften

t again, the weight of his words

catching me off guard. "Why are you

ng about the way he was looking at me-steady, unfl

in it," I admitted, my vo

sity flickering across hi

you're falling apart, piece by piece, and no one's there to put you back together. When I look at this house, I see something

warm streak of tears on my cheek. I quickly wipe

sion softened in a way I hadn't seen before. "You'r

r in it. "I don't feel strong. Most days,

art," he said, his voice steady. "It

aws and sharp edges, Gideon Blackthorn had a way of cutting t

id, my voice bare

mine for a moment longer before h

said, watching as he

ay, glancing back at m

leaving me alone with my thoughts

mes, I realized something I hadn't a

he cold, calculating man I'd pe

t terri