His Reluctant Obsession

as going to a funeral-her own. Her bedroom felt li

n her aesthetic. She groaned and rolled her eyes, stomping in

Africa and start up a new life, she concluded that she

d under the shower far too long, hoping the heat might

ress was still there. Watching her

ts were laid out neatly. A pair of heels sat by the foot of

sn't a

a damn

a shackle. Every layer a reminder that she had no say

me. Then the do

le

ine st

her m

room. Didn't ask how Elena felt. Didn't offer comfort. Instead, she picked up the necklace on the vanity-

s met in

g. Please, s

y smoothed her hai

love, Elena supposed. But

ena sighed deeply and carefully sides

she would soon have to call "husband". A wave of

in a silk robe, the morning light spilling across her bare shoulders. Her skin needed no correction-only a touch of warmth her

aid lined her eyes with a fine stroke, enough to deepen the gaze without stealing its natural my

g to brush her collarbone. The style whispered old-money grace and qui

e maid took a step back, stunne

ook like a queen while treating

Elena didn't look at them as she stepped into the hallway. She

er. Just the echo of her heels on marble and

he foot of the grand staircase, but he wasn't.

river opened the door without a word. Elena pau

n. Get it

door shut behind her li

glass and let herself imagine, for just a moment, that it was a normal day. Tha

ty was re

being de

in silk a

me tasted like st

re

ow his face. Didn't know his voice. But his name carr

ehow... it w

Steel, an

the Moretti estate, casting long, golden lines across

rved from shadow, sleeves rolled to his elbows, jaw

e felt...

re said, straightening the cuffs of his suit

veway winding through the iron gates below, waiting for a car th

y, testing the name on his tongu

gn. Still m

ot fo

for her," he said, fin

ised a brow. "You

ct her

s he watched Nikolai being petty. Apparently he thought it was just

ion would be w

teel. "She's Sinclair's daughter.

f she

that wasn't quite a smile. "Then I'll

g off the stone. The portraits on the walls watched in silence

r the weight of empire... with

at was

need her t

eeded her