Bound By Duty

ly slept t

ne who had been struggling to buy instant noodles only days before. The room was large and

e it w

atly arranged in the wardrobe, and the silk sheets

man who hardly knew her when she entered

do thi

There was no

-

ng Before

Evelyn arrived early,

nto the apartment, followed by her assistant carrying a

prived, rubbed her eyes. "I t

but we have work to do before then. You need t

odded. There was n

-

s in D

aching her everything she

s the marble coffee table. "They'll want to know how you met, how

f Lucas Hernandez-his business empire, his habits, his p

mirked.

g the fact that Lucas never went to social events before midnight if

art was the fabri

ar prior. They had clicked right away and had been dating in secret ever since. At a pr

hen she read that. "That's ridiculo

"Then you better learn

underestimated how di

-

the Man Who

htfall came, Ve

or, gazing incredulou

the fabric shimmering under the soft lighting. Her hair was styled in lo

she belonged i

l felt like the same girl who h

t of her reverie by

it, and Luca

breath

s precise cut highlighted his strong shoulders, and as h

, they just looke

Lucas

'll

wled. "Ge

nothing more as he walked toward her, reac

tated bu

xquisite diamond ring that

n her finger, Vel

e murmured, s

se it does. I don't mak

r hers until he eventually move

ready?"

rves and nodded. "As r

-

: A Test

m as soon as they got

art pounding. The time had come for her t

wn and murmured in her ear, "Smile, darlin

s voice. She turned to face him as the c

, they looked like

glasses filled the air as chandeliers glistened overhead. Before Velia

er dress smiled warmly. "And this must b

mach clench

tightened slightly-a sil

d smoothly. "

. Lucas and I go way back." She gave Velia a po

managed a soft laugh. "At

an eyebrow. "Rea

a second, but the

ndation Gala," he

moment longer before she finally smile

d silently.

refully crafted lies. Velia played her role well-laughing at Lu

she could feel the w

ngerously alluring. She wasn't the

ave him sly looks of curiosity; s

Hernandez was more than jus

stood by his side fo

-

with t

utiful melody just as Velia was beginning t

, extending his han

pounded.

e said, cutting

er hand in his and let him l

ped around her waist, s

re. A strange feeling that was entirely related to the man holding her and had no

dimmed for a moment

is voice just audi

mirably tonight. But keep in m

ok a dee

usiness deal, she had cons

ething as she gazed into Lucas H

merely play

inkering

as,

urn because he was