She's Dead, But I'm The One Punished
n her lap. The script was bold, precise-just like the man who had handed it to her. Lucian Arquet
ften the sharp reality of what they meant. Marriage. A bond with a man who did no
opulence-dark wood paneling, deep sapphire drapes, gold accents catching the dim light-but it
for appearance
heir marria
respond, the heavy doors pushed open, revealing a woman in a cris
has requested your prese
ed. "Did he... act
ch. "He expects you th
t a request.
tting the contract as
word, the door closing behind h
pinned from the morning, her dress still immaculate despite the weight of exhaustion pressing agains
cold marble banister. The house was eerily silent, save for the occasional flicker of t
all, she hesitated for just a
f whiskey in front of him. He didn't look up as she entered. The only acknowle
, and Alessandra took her seat. The silence s
ke. "I assume you'v
d, meeting his
nd
lowly. "You w
but it was gone before she could name it. "That
t she kept her expression
t obligation is fulfilled, you will have everything you could
nto a marriage, bound to a man who would never love her, and yet
asked. "What do you get ou
he wouldn't answer. Then, with a calm, alm
ght. She hadn'
e will silence expectations. It will satisfy my family's demands. And mo
ot about companionship. It was about control. About reclaiming
ot just about her. She had been placed int
aceh
omething that had b
she forced herself to smile. "Then I
if he hadn't expected her to surrender so easily. Perha
had been placed beside her plate and, wit
dried in
as d
longer Ales
lessandra