EVERYONE WANTS MY MYSTERIOUS

VAR

hered to greet her when she arrived. That told her a lot right away. The se

ss for a plain ivory gown. The scent of roses lingered in her hair, though, and

lt unnatural, and security cameras tucked under the roof. Guards everywhere. Three in plain sight, two more lurking

ded a wife for reasons she hadn't bothered to dig into. She needed a fresh start, something to keep old threats off her track. So

nd she stepped inside, she realized nobody cared about their "agreement." To the people at Val

aded with food. At the head sat Elara Vale-Caelan's grandmother-elegant, silver hair twisted up perfectly. Varelia had seen her p

him, Lysandra, Caelan's younger sister. And right beside Lysandra, Seraphina Drake

looking every bit the controlled, unreadable man she'd married. Not a hair

t his family

ate," Ela

ed the clock-

ndmother," Caelan

him, just kept her gaze locked

olite smile. "Good

er," Caela

t cold. "Very we

g she'd learned: people who try to intimid

ut the chair ne

sat, Seraphina smiled-

ised her wineglass

es

ext to nothin

akes tw

ink. Caelan's eyes flickered wi

got tight. "So y

ual

eres

d back. "Where

ral p

ch o

e insti

insti

her gaze. "Do

p. "Of course. You're married to

S

o know what kind of woma

water. "I think they'll

entertained. Lysandra covered anothe

wasn't done. "

wor

he

pende

ng w

ous t

linked. "Th

accu

paused. He was

d her head. "An

just for a second. Nobod

y isn't r

es sharpened.

N

's un

ay

find it odd. We know almost nothi

ice. "That's exa

looked

is family. His wife will carry the Vale name ev

derst

yo

es

ll agreed to

d

udied he

an offered a clean break, a deal they didn't have to talk about. So

ecause it wa

ughed. "P

d. "That's one

oke. "The marriag

ng his gaze on her. "I just wonder how long a

e eye. "That depends on whethe

vanished. Caelan stayed composed,

d at a servant.

ifact-had seen photos. The Jade Empress. A jade sculpture suppos

opened it, and everyone leaned in. The jade glowed u

nnounced, "was

red it. "A

ded. "Absolut

forward. "I've

down, an elderly expert adjusted hi

thing-but the carving was too clean, the color off. A

xpert, then Elara, t

's a

ammed over

eraphina set her glass down

use

d calm. "I sa

oung lady, I've examine

lieve

ated this pi

henticated th

shocked

"You've been here ten minutes and y

e of fraud," Varelia s

prov

he artifact. "I

ghing again. "Of course

ed hard. "Why do

se the real one has a fractu

wned. "There i

act

e jade, checked it under the

said n

her, triumpha

dded.

ou owe this fam

N

real Jade Empress has a fracture benea

hed, "That's y

N

again. "It's how I know. Th

s to believe you can spot a price

N

t are you

"This isn't the original. It

ace turned dar

ged. "The

don't seem worried

m n

hy

inion doesn't ch

er water. No interest in arguing. She wasn'

the silence. "Wher

his grandmother anymore-he was watching Varelia. Face unreadable

e here who hadn't tried to humiliate her

ust a little.

hanged. Caelan lea

jade, then at this s

said, voice quiet,

hang. "It isn't in a

sed, "Then

erson who sold you this replica

e. Varelia knew, then, she'd made a mistake. She'd sparked his curiosity. She'd ha