Beneath the Billionaire's contract

too large for her pain. She stood in the middle of the living room, surrounded by luxury that seemed to mock her. Her trembling hands

't kiss

t

ed her with invisible heat. That stare, sharp, unreadable, and dangerous, wa

city below. It looked different now, smaller and colder. The streets

I doin

o viral tragedy. From being loved, no, used by Darian, to sta

ffered her

e. Not

nt

thout a reason. If he wanted her in his world, it was because

as too ti

r

act art, leather-bound books, and minimalist design. But it wasn't sterile. It was lived in. There were subtle things: a slightly wrinkled throw on th

unsettl

ian seemed, the harder it

walked to it, her fingers hovering above the keys. Music had always been her refuge, a world where

sed a si

choed, pure

her. Then

wly, sh

made the air grow heavy with emotion. She didn't know how long she played

," a voice said

ju

was

serving her like a predator watc

re back," she stammer

r, eyes fixed on her. "You play lik

d. "Maybe that's th

smile. Did

ed his hand on the keys. His fingers moved slowly, uncert

nked. "You

My father thought it

st. "Mine used to say it was the on

was

"Is your mothe

ered. "Car acci

sor

ide the ache. "You get us

understood that all too we

s heavy with truths neither wanted to spe

ight," he said. "I

blinke

anded it to her. "Because you're no longer just a hear

ened t

er. Public ones. Papara

ng Disaster: Sister and

n De Luca Seen wi

y Woman: Contra

ed. "They think

nking that," he said,

p at him, heart

ella. People who would use y

ught. "What d

rt. In public. At events. You'll smile when you want to scream. You'll stand beside

ed hard. "What'

ction. Money. Power. Reve

ile again. Her imag

w... h

aid finally. "W

thing that makes the world

hat eve

ep slit at the thigh a bold statement she wouldn't have dared days ago.

the mirror

as re

do, sharp enough to cut glass. He didn't s

dangerous," h

eel

thing real and

iting outside. As they drove through the glowing city,

he city. Inside, it was all crystal chandeliers, whispered

hey entered,

as fl

Ariella was

ll of her back, grounding

eaking eye contact with anyone long enough for them to challenge it.

she sa

ri

s the

g with

ion faltered for just a s

iella

deadly

ello," she whis

is head. "A

m through his. "I

water. Elian's presence did that-commanded atten

ed Darian

rian said, vo

she purred

ed like she'd s

t know y

lla's hand, lifting it so her fake ring sparkled u

face we

s lips t

la felt..

on

d smiled up at him. "I t

ver. "If you do, I migh

aving Darian and Van

in days, Ariella didn

t like