Beneath the Billionaire's contract

heets. Ariella stirred slowly, eyes fluttering open to unfamiliar surroundings: polished m

lian De Luca

eart

's betrayal, the blinding humiliation, the drunken haze at the bar, and the cold, cal

iage c

dress, crumpled in the corner, mocked her. She wasn't a brid

her attention. A tall figure appea

brought you breakfast. Or rather, the staff did. I

d. "Why are yo

is my

ped the sheet tighter around her chest

ble. "If you mean our arrangement, n

d a voice that had trembled too much to argue. He'd offered salvation in ink and legal jargon. One

lt nau

?" she asked

the curtain. "Now, we make it believa

at. Just what every girl drea

alley, Ariella. What did you think would happen? That your

stif

ding sorry at all. "That was harsh. But

way. "I didn

account. And a way to disappear from the headlines be

s trembling. "And what

answer r

picked up a black suit jacket, slipping

e one pretending to be your wi

eve I can care about something other than power.

ed at how effortl

rehab?" she snapp

sting his cufflinks. "Just play your role, an

him to shove his smug face and his Armani suit. Bu

, tears prickling her eyes. "I

l have a closet filled by noon.

. "That wasn't par

lic will assume we're sharing a bed. You'll sleep here for appearan

eeks b

u wanted a lifeline, Ariella. This is it. Don't b

that, he

rs

ont of the walk-in

ivered within hours. Her torn wedding dress had been re

hated how soft it felt. Hated that even now

door interrupte

" she sai

a clipboard in hand. "Ms. Moretti, I mean, Mrs. De Luca. I'm L

nked. "Pres

ke last night that you were jilted at the altar. Mr. De Luca s

t like

w night," Lillian continued. "There's a gala for the

he. "You want me to go

e prepared your entire backstory. Childhood friends. Reconnected six months ago.

e out hollow. "You'

et's just say Elian know

t N

y stretching endlessly before her. Below, the world kept turning, un

door slide o

e me," E

n around. "I d

'll c

offed. "I

ting his hands on the rail

d. "Not scared.

r a while, the wind brus

" he said. "Not just financially. You'll be

ft for the first time. "Why do

low she almost didn't hear it, "

ing between them. A flicker of shared p

t, Ariella didn't

t like