TRAPPED IN HIS VOWS

in work. Spreadsheets, deals, acquisitions-everything moved like a well-oiled machine

d, breaking his

d I rather wait

desk. Impatient already? He expected as much. The Lancasters were de

his phone and

aced with amusement. "To what do I owe the honor, Sinc

e a meeting with the Lancaste

. "Jesus. You're calling your therapist for fashio

suits hanging in his office cl

essional, coffee says you're approachable, and black..." He chuckled d

ed. "Then b

you should wear something that makes their daughter's knees weak. A little undone, top buttons o

is head. "You're a damn u

"And yet, you

deep black suit. He checked himself in the mirror-a predato

his G-Wagon, the storm had p

ancasters to the man wh

in front of their towering, wrought-iron gates. The mansion loomed beyond

hone

Sinclair, yo

hum, and he drove through, the tires crun

usting the cuffs of his jet-black

carefr

ocking onto a sight

Samoyed. The dog wagged its tail enthusiastically, its fluffy coat brushing against the folds of her flowing sundress. Sunlight s

Lanca

xpression

sheltered, untouched by the ruthless world that had torn h

his presence

eyes

ok over, her gaze drinking him in-his broad frame, the powerful se

en. Intense

e her stomach tighten, t

rested, as if she were just anothe

her more than

forward, her voice laced with i

said n

ledgment, nothing more-before wa

fter him, bro

sence feel like a storm waiting

eir opulent living room, the air thick with tensio

ueezed orange juice w

at it. "I don't

d. "Would you prefer

pre

awkward

t have any at

his head before offering a sharp, knowi

ed him a glass of water. She said nothing, but when she turned back

actly what this

o

the water in his glass as

ated. "It's no secret that everyone wants a seat at my table. A partnership with Sinclair Enterprise

er sat stone-fac

th a soft clink. "If I'm going to tie my company's reputation to yours,

then delive

arri

athan, however, stiffened complete

again. Investors will see us as one, and the weight of my empire will pull yours back to the top. It's a win-win,

rils flared. "A

w, amused by how quick

ce sharp, protective. "I refuse to entangle her in any

lightly, watching the m

going to play di

. "I had expected a more serious response. I suppose I overestima

e stood. "I won't waste a

before he could say anything, E

rist-lightly, but enough

r, his voice barely r

nk about it," she interrupt

between the silent conversation happeni

ll the time you need," he said smoothly, adjusting his cuf

stopped briefly. Without turn

I visit, I expe

h that,

ound him as he approached his car. He wasn't ex

Lanca

of pure admiration. The way she examined it, head tilted slightly, lips partin

furrowed

e asked, his voice

cted. "It's the make. The craftsmanship. The details. This model-G63, right?-has an AMG-tuned V

t women he knew admired luxury,

admit it-he gave her a mea

ted, her sapphire-blue e

smooth, polished exterior. Then, with a hint of misc

chuckle, shaking his

s if the rejection genuinel

." He walked past her, open

ld slide in, she

o you wear?" sh

pau

he thought h

. "I mean... you smell really good. It's not just the usua

rply. This was ge

s." His tone turne

n his demeanor. He could see it in her eyes-tha

in line. Without another word, she moved asid

e air, but as he glanced at the rearview mirror be

hing

s. Int

are

uestion lingere

s absentmindedly tracing patterns against the stone. The city lights g

rp jawline, and the piercing green eyes that see

rply, almost an

wa

me charming, some powerful. But none had made her stomach t

ee her mother stepping onto the balcony, her

masking the whirlwind inside her. "Is he your

y her daughter's sarcasm. "Mayb

ere was a flicker of something deep

Aria's voice was li

answer, Jonathan's sharp

ri

ognizing the weight behind it

threshold, his jaw locke

hat man a chance," he said coldl

s voice made he

e dimming as something uneasy settl

orward as if to ease the t

ed. Complicated. T

meant

her touch both soothing and manipulative in the same breath. "Ethan Sinclair isn'

e chose her words-the way she carefully built

een her heart. And Eleanor k

hard, sacrificed too much, for a man like that to come in and destroy everything." She sighed dramatically, glancing tow

fect

. The idea of her father suffering, of him breaking b

actly what E

turned and walked away, her mother's words ech

g onto the framed photos lining her wall-the perfect family,

l really

edge of her bed, h

The idea that something much bigger was at pl

buzzed b

aw Sienna's name flash

ignoring it, but she knew S

aled and

"I have so much to tell you. First of all, I m

in, her voice bar

used. Sil

's wr

gers against her tem

Everything

face, burned its way thr

Sinc

e hell

rnings, the weight pressing down on her chest like an iron fist. As she sp

Sienna was at a

n, curiosity, something she couldn't even name. She ran a trembling han

e silence. "So... what'

don't know." She didn't want to know

then, in true Sienna fashion

ll, you look ugly

laugh, swiping at her

s tone, Sienna asked, "Alright, so let's figure this out. Do you k

even though Sienna couldn't see. "

high heels are the devil's work, so

enn

ou never know. Maybe he could make you

her cheeks burning as s

ed. "I said

in disbelief. "You're insane. A

-hu

ight,

ms of Mr. B

her phone onto the bed. But as she lay back again

ice. The tension that linge

warning echoe

d Sienna'

ght, she found herself whispering

ll is Etha

older woman tiptoed, as if afraid of waking Aria, but not because she feared disrupting her daughter's rest. No, it was th

speak. The presence of her mother was always louder than her silence. Slowly, she propped herself up, watching a

her voice hoarse from sleep but sha

a moment, she didn't answer, her eyes focused on a distant point as though contemplati

erness in her tone. But before she could ask again, Elea

glass, her tears flowing freely now. "How will we survive? How will you survive

glance from those in the circles they had once dominated. But there was something more in h

by the thinnest thread. She couldn't breathe for a moment. The fear gnawed at her-fear of losing

turmoil inside her. "What does he want from us? From

tremor to cross her face. "He wants your father's downfall, Aria," she sai

n't understand, a man who held so much power in his hands, had been slowly orchestrating the dest

r of Aria's own distress, and yet, Aria felt her resolve hardening.

uiet desperation. She wasn't just asking for contact information. She was dem

er behind her watery eyes, but she couldn't deny the truth anymore

ria. This... this is too danger

se," she insisted, her voice low and unwaver

ilt, as though she were surrendering something precious to her daughter. S

couldn't control. And after a while, Eleanor turned, too weary to argue further, and left

The thought haunted her, yet the more she pondered it, the more necessary it seemed. She dialed the number she had learned by heart-the numb

e ri

arm yet uncertain, br

deep voice eventually came through, low and measured, as thou

this?" h

eplied, the words slipping ou

ion flickered in his tone. "Ah, Aria. Did

ere the conversation would go, but she kne

," she said, her tone fi

nded, his voice now edged with something s

oothly. "But just a heads-up... orang

ent, but she ignored it, choosing not to en

almost... tender? It was hard to tell, bu

live, her body humming with anticipation and dread

turned to Camille, who was lounging lazily across hi

aid, his voic

early irritated. "You can't k

himself a glass, and took a long sip. The smooth burn calmed his nerves, but he cou

. He paused as he stared at his reflection in the mirror. There was some

I feel.

ad on the plan. His revenge was falling int