-

R

mundane day of her 9-t

-or so she thought. Her boss slamme

e first thing tomorrow

Another day working ove

t into the flow of her work,

le, the sound shattering th

the stack of files she needed to review. But th

wn number. No sender name. Just th

this eerie feeling that someone was secre

You watch too ma

nt it started, she felt goosebumps-li

the air, accompanied by El

lap of skin on skin, two bodies sla

eart as her eyes g

o's office-where she had

videoe

aling his stuff? I thou

peared be

uld feel if this hits the media. Or

Eliano. And he's not

known his name

ped back, dread building in her stomach. S

bring down Am

u

buzzed in. It was a

Memories of him tangled in bed with

the betrayal

he texted. "Now she wants to marry one

rough her. It's

drama? Why did she still have

ding must

still

il him. It has to work out, Arica. That-or

back, her hands tr

. How did you

ions. Their wedding is tomorro

fl

e set her phone down, her

nic rose, so

her life again after three y

and the Elysian brothers-two sets o

heir connections to bury the case, stripped her

of her life in her absence an

would blackmail him and t

rothers' bond and destroy t

-

IA

I cannot take you as m

was palpable as he strode away from the al

on?" she demanded, tea

whispers spread t

iano!" She picked up her gow

ack, his ga

ris," he said coldly. "

?! What do

ing at the back of the hall, poi

y invitation, and she sure

at Arica, her tone a low growl, maki

tioning stares from his broth

wedding to a woman he didn't ev

a, and Amaris cau

h!" she s

was Amaris. She stopped in front of A

. It for sure doesn't feel nice

meant to comfort-i

, but Arica caught her

ocked. "I'm the woman he c

ippled through her face-and th

aged a bit

e with a pauper like you? That he's g

mile crossed

deed-he dumped an elegant lad

with a bitter remark when

think

in harshly and grabbed Arica

w-and Amaris' mouth hung open in disb

-

States C

stony glare that burned through her w

Arica," he said emotionlessly.

ly, his words repe

for three years, and afte

lysian Bank-and you, with all you

riage will remain platonic with n

ave separate l

you to work, as everything

ill not have any romantic i

to share my wi

o oppressive, but she signed

me to wreak havoc on the

had her pl

ly took her arm while they w

hispered to her. "We have to pretend to love ea

, he kissed her forehead, and

se from his other billiona

her bag. It was a

nk

sm

sure is

er into the limousine, she allow

ckm