A Lover's Treachery Unveiled

the vibrant colors of the life I thought I had now faded to gray. The love I felt for Olivia had curdled into something bitter and cold. My drea

in his study. He looked up from his

y. What's on

ng," I began, my voice flat. "You once mentioned a... an arranged marriag

only suggested that because I thought you were lonely.

ge of his perfect daughter. "I just think it's time for me to start my ow

slowly, a hint of sadness in his eyes. "If this is

s her before I even opened it. Olivia stood there, dressed in a silk robe, the same one she had worn on so

apped her arms around my neck, pressing her body against mine. "You don't have to go. You don't need some stran

n act, a desperate, calculated performance to keep her pawn in place. I felt nothing but revulsion. I

ce hard and empty. "Don

shock, the seduction replaced by ge

t's done." I had never felt so empty, so utterly devoid of feeling

the intermediary for the marriage. The dinner was tense. Olivia shot daggers at me from across the table, while I foc

A brilliant surgeon, top of her field. Her family and the Sterlings go back genera

yn Hayes was just a name, a phantom who represented a way out. I nodded p

ing had insisted I go. As soon as we arrived, Olivia left our family's side and went straight to Ethan Cole. They stood together all night, laughin

ssion, then at Olivia. To keep up appearances for him, I decided to

quietly. "You l

e," she said, her voice loud enough for those around them t

react, Ethan stepped forward, a smug smile on

ed. I stood there, frozen, as they turned their backs on me, their laughter echoing in my ears. In that public moment of humi