se didn't fee

like a s

t to be comforting. The gravel drive stretched endlessly, flanked by sculpted hedges and stone fountains that whisper

d in her lap, watching the reflection of the

poken since the

ugh he hadn't just altered the course of her life. His silence was deliberate

finally

river said politely,

o

pped ou

e walls, tall windows glowing faintly from within, the structure elegant

car and moved to h

. Not if y

ins

ned before sh

nt, composed, eyes carefully lowered. A woman steppe

ood," she sa

ruck Ariella

Lucien said. "She

er head. "Your ro

r r

ur

at Lucien. He

a long corridor. "I

tly against marble floors. Ariella felt exposed, studied, even t

e a set of doors at

Ariella, opening one door. "And Mr.

blinked.

almly. "You'll ha

r more than the c

to pretend," s

," he replied. "I'm

moment, then e

ped into the

nimal decoration. It looked like a hotel suite-luxurious but tempo

k to Lucien. "

ton

tomor

watch. "Tomorrow,

tightened.

nnouncement schedu

at him. "Yo

joke abou

n't tell

didn'

and sudden. "Yo

otectin

g me into

es

"You don't get to

y. "That decision was mad

rt because t

oom, trying to regain control. Her suitca

fast," she

ty hand

rse th

her hair. "What exactly

l distance away. "That we married privately.

that'

r n

y. "You talk like t

t

in. "And what am

"You smile when required. You

in pr

"In private, you'r

ght her

earching for mocke

oing this?" sh

d. "Because walking a

hy

e reason I m

n't el

come easily

the unfamiliar quiet of a house too large to feel safe.

n slept as easily as

ckwood House wa

ants followed. Helena moved through it al

her hair, another her makeup. She barely recogni

diculous,"

sary," Hele

extravagance. No vulnerability. Something a billio

ed just as t

d when h

or a m

adable crossed

do," h

m a look. "

iella's stomach churned as the building came into view-c

ien said quietl

e a

a pa

oftly. "That'

ar st

oor o

expl

she couldn't distinguish. Lucien's hand settl

ch star

intimate-but becaus

ing her chin as they s

. He confirmed the marriage without el

turned

oze for ha

voice low enough only

e

eras at

reporter called out.

ucien's grip t

y," Lucie

y the s

la. "Because not everyt

holding it longe

when she

the s

oo still. Watchi

eyes

lid down

act, Lucien shifted

guiding her bac

nd the noise faded, A

s watching,

ession darken

caught. "

es

ll brought m

es

his would p

plied. "It conf

t him. "Conf

ategist, not as a billionaire-but as a

noticed you,"

ood ra

ppens now?"

s jaw t

find out how far the

r pull

alized the tru

wood didn't make

de he