Married For Convenience, Loved In Death

d in a comfortab

grew larger, and I even began to sell a few pieces under a pseudonym. I was happy, or something close to it. The lines between my role as a substitute and my own

transactional in my mind, but the imitation

re. His flight had landed hours ago, but the house remained empty and silent. I called h

piece ticking away the minutes, then the hours. Even

minated by the soft moonlight. He looked tired, but his eyes were fixed on me with an

," he whispered. "T

asleep, I knew I had to do it. The comfortable routine had become a cage,

lling away f

e clear in the silence.

laced by a familiar, chilling coldness. "We've

o face him. "She's back. And she's not just at

what you're

ng staff that my art studio was being 'repurposed' and had all of my canvases and supplies move

ly, completely stunned. For a man who was always in c

ay?" he asked, his v

The security guard told me Mr. Hayes had given orders tha

anger I had never seen directed at anyone but himself. He pulled out

into the phone. Mark was the head of his

hell is Chloe Miller? And why is she in m

panicked sputtering of t

you verify that with me? Did you? No? Then you're an idiot. Get her out of my house. Right now. I want

g for a reply and immedia

want to know everything she's been doing for the past five years... And I want her blacklisted. F

eavily. The silence was thick with his rage. He looked at me, and

ngs in Singapore for three days straight. My phone was off. I had no idea. I swear to you

ever hired her. She must have lied to Ma

is shock was undeniable. This wasn't the reaction of a man welcoming his old flame

t time, to test the found

lings for her, Liam?"

k him. The anger in his face melted aw

a ghost. A memory of a foolish boy I used to be. You... you are

n us, taking my hands in his.

"I know our beginning was unconventional. But somewhere along the way, this stopped being a

e deception. I found none. All I saw was a sincerity

ubstitute. I would stop waiting for the other shoe to dro

hands. "I bel

a physical thing. He pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly

he whispered

uch, a hunger to erase the doubt and reaffirm his claim. And for the first time, I let myself respond, not as an actress