Vows of Deception

ng open before her. The document was thick, every page sealed with a golden Cross Corporation insi

ng lightly against the polished surface. Scarlett's father, Richard Hale, sat beside her, his shoulders hunche

weet but razor-sharp underneath. "Unless you

n a coma, was a transaction, nothing more. The Cross family had agreed to settle her father's debts in exchange

would be gone. He would be left with nothing. Homeless. Destitute. And

s she signed her name on the last line. Scarlett Hale-Cross.

, her smirk widening. "You

eath hitched.

time to plan a fairy-tale wedding, did you? Damien's grandmother, Eleanor Cross, wants the ceremony don

unded in her ears.

the thought. "Don

wasn't

posing fortress of wealth and power. The sprawling mansion loomed over her like

devoid of emotion. Scarlett stood beside Damien's hospital bed, her trembling fingers clutching a bouquet of w

Cross to be your law

p in her throat. Her voice barely

judge simply nodded and declared her married. Jus

the reality of her situation settled in. She was leg

e in the sterile, dimly lit hospital room. The heart monitor beeped steadily b

ly. "You're lucky," she murmured.

to adjust the blanket ov

fingers

ath catching in her thr

Damien remained still. The sile

ning that contract, real fea

ike a gilded cage. The Cross estate was suffocating in its elegance,

, she saw Damien's fingers twitch. It was probab

quarters, their expressions unreadable. It was clear they s

se. The butler, an older man wit

anor requests your pr

r nightgown. She had no choice but to face t

gaze cutting through Scarlett like a blade. The woman exuded power,

Eleanor observed

small smile. "It's

clink. "You married into this famil

ent. She wasn't about

bore into hers. "Do yo

ath hitched. "

that answer. "You'll stay by h

erness in her throat. Loyal

, ma

long moment before shift

ssed. As she turned to leave

arlett, you better

's blood

f he d

aware of everything happening around him? What if he despised the idea of being forced into a marr

lose in on her, suffocating in their opulence. When she finally reached Damien's room again, she hesitat

t unfair-strong jaw, high cheekbones, thick lashes that rested against his pale skin.

nd lightly over his. "Damien," she whispered.

ed again. This tim