The Billionaire Secret Bride

rkened woods. The sound of footsteps and shouts grew distant, but Ava knew i

dn't bring herself to get in. Isabelle had already climbed into the driver's seat, he

a faint silhouette against the night sky, but the gravity o

now!" Isabelle's voice pierc

nd over again: "Lucas isn't the man you think he is. He's

eyes as he looked at her. The same man who had saved her life, who had held he

she didn't know

sper, "what if everything The Regent said is true?

crossing her face. "Ava, now is not the time to que

d. She talked about Lucas like he was just another pawn in the Foundation's ga

ing in her cheek. "You're letting her get

cas is part of

es softening. "Ava, I don't know what Lucas's game is. He's kept a lot from both of us. But I do know one thing-he cares abou

ke a storm. She couldn't deny the pull she felt toward Lucas, the way his touch made her f

way from the estate. The darkness outside seemed to close in on

ng?" Ava asked, h

eadlights cutting through the blackness. "We're getting you somewhere sa

ister. "But I'm not runn

u need to think clearly. The Foundation is coming fo

do I do? What if Lucas is part of this? What if

can't know that until we get more information. But if you want answers,

ad to know the truth. She couldn't keep living in the dark

-

isolated-far from prying eyes-and the perfect place to lay low for a while. Isabelle pull

confront Lucas. She had to hear his side of the story. She needed to know if everyt

ith me?" Ava aske

d. "I'll be right behind you. Y

ettle over her. The cabin felt suffocating, like a cage that

go," sh

-

d spiraled out of control. It was an unassuming house on the outskirts of the city, hidden in plain sight. Ava had

eart raced as she rang the doorbell. The sound

s. Lucas. His eyes were dark, his jaw tense.

voice hoarse. "I w

motions were a tangled mess, a storm

ucas," she said, h

sion pained. "I didn't

hat's going on? The Regent said you were

aching out as if to comfort her, b

oftly. "I never wanted any of this f

er words came out sharper than she i

tion... It's not what it seems. I was trying to get out of it. I wanted to get you ou

were desperate, but there was truth in his e

truth," she dema

aze flickering with guilt and regret.