rely slept

answers to. What had he meant about her father? About someone in the Lancaster family wan

her past. Not just the version her stepmother fed her to justify her cruelty, but the real truth. I

ter mansion. It started with a flurry of staff members preparing the drawing

wers were arranged in every vase and trays of delicate pastries were d

her voice. "Miss

s blood

ia Ro

n's f

osed to marry him. The

eyes that seemed to slice through the soul. She was the daughter of a foreign ambassador, born into wealth, prestige, and po

talia's place at the altar, she had ass

Natalia

door opened, and out stepped Natalia, more stunning in person than any picture could capture. She was

ence of someone who knew

ed by a small entourage. Her eyes scanned the grand hall unt

a smile, as if nothing

idn't sm

his posture stiffened as she approa

r spot on the landing, unsure

head. "You don't lo

t be here," D

atalia's voice dripped with elegance and

She turned to leave, but

st be the s

lle

irs, every step feeling like a test. When she reache

ter," she said calm

You certainly look the part. Though, I i

, placing himself between them. "This isn't the

me a proper explanation for what happened. One moment, we were p

o Arielle agai

r a tight-lipped s

en said, his tone colder than ever. "Ou

be true, but you and I both know th

id no

nce was

irected at her. She wanted to leave, to escape the suffocating air between the three

s family doesn't forgive weakness. You're not just married to Damien-you're marr

smell her expensive perfume. "You may have

ld respond, Damien

past them both, heels clicking like gunshots on marble. "I'll be s

a reply before disap

lle turned to Damien. "Is thi

ere because of her father. The ambassador is meeting w

Arielle said. "Or did you forg

we her an e

Just like you didn't owe me an e

yes unreadable. "You were a con

ng more than

and walked away, leaving her alone in the g

, Arielle did

elt r

n, or anyone else walk all over her. She would find out the truth about her past, she wo

become the

-