Married to the wrong twin, loved by the other

ke a second skin. Crystal chandeliers dripped light across the ballroom, catching on diamonds and champagn

wedd

cited his vows with the warmth of a corporate merger. Adrian Blackwood. Heir to

a Marchetti, t

e officiant could finish. Bett

ngers pressing hard enough to bruise through layers of lace. A reminder, perhaps, that I

ached, danced until my feet went numb, and pretended not to notice how Adrian's gaze drifted to

from the glittering crowd, silence set

uately," Adrian said

he passing city lights. "I wa

through his eyes. "Your family's reputation is in shambles. You have one purpose no

penthouse overlooking the riv

s and champagne, a grotesque parody of romance. Adrian d

exploration. He took what he considered his, and when I gasped at the sharpness o

and alone. Tears leaked from the corners of my eyes, dampening the silk pill

-

s present, he treated me like expensive furniture-something to display, not to engage. Dinners were silent. Conversations were co

o this existence when t

had watched his car disappear from the penthouse window and felt someth

n the library, reading by lamplight

d gone home hours ago. Adrian was

he hallway. Fam

ok like a shield, as the

ing was different. His suit was looser, his stance less rigid. And his

er than I remembered, almost

ought

hat made no sense-a slight hesitation in his movement, as though

air from my face. The gesture was so

g flickered in his express

rmured. "I know I'v

my husband's face, spoke with his voice,

e gestured to the couch. "I want to

oved, places I dreamed of visiting, the childhood memories that still made me smile. He

though I were precious, as though my pleasure mattered more than his own. Afterward, he

against my temple. "I'l

rms, feeling safe for t

-

g came, the

stand, a sing

that had turned cold again, stood my husban

Adrian demanded, his

tangling with fear. "

e warmth was gone, and this man moved with an edge that cut through the air.

d turned

d last night had

adn't bee