She's Dead, But I'm The One Punished
t, she lay still, the weight of reality settling over her. This wasn't a dream. She was now Aless
up, inhaling slowly. This is just anot
at the door m
me
eatly folded before her. "G
familiar. Mrs. Arquette. It felt strange on he
nce at breakfast," the maid continue
ssumed last night's conversation had set a clear precedent: th
her nightgown. "I'l
long stone pathway led to an elegant wrought-iron table, where Lucian sat, his back to her. The crisp
eautiful. Decep
steps, the heels of her sho
she took her seat across
wouldn't appr
aside and finally m
quiet clink of porcelain
before speaking. "I was s
ainst the armrest. "We have an announcement to make today.
sn't about them. I
er cup down, forcing a polit
tched, almost amu
wless in his control-every move, every word measured and deliberate. But
is jaw, the way his fingers flexe
to do this," she
ion of a second before he set his knif
who's truly indifferent wouldn't
ckered behind his eyes. Not anger
rig
ad peop
ll shrug. "I'v
ward, resting his forearms on the table. "Since w
e as he studied her, hi
e said smoothly. "But you've already
against her lap, bu
rked. "Sma
ll me, Lucian. If I hadn't been the one chose
p his glass of whiskey-whiskey, a
id, "I stopped fight
way he said it sent
once been someone who fought. But he did
her more-the resignation in his voic
respond, a voice
cia
sharply against the stone. She was stunning-tall, poised, with sl
d, though his expression
ette. The formidable matriarch of the Arquette family.
lessandra, assessing. "I see t
ponse was co
dn't cower. She had learned long ago that women
essandra greeted sm
yes. "The pleasure is mine. After all, it's n
Alessandra wasn't foolish eno
r role here," Isabella cont
led sharply
abella's gaze never left Alessandra
her palm, but she forced a
ly, as if satisfied with the answer.
enched. "That's
ulder, unconcerned. "I'll see
at, she tur
dra and Lucian was thic
Alessandra noted, her v
ed. "She doe
ing the smirk playing at her lips. "Wel
r the briefest moment, something clos
gone in a
erything els