er before Amara co

No music. No

sil

t he had memorized a thousand times. The two witnesses-business associates of Adrian-b

abric of her white dress. It wasn't a bridal gown. It was a plain dress she had bought from a clea

lored suit. He stood beside her with an expression carved in stone

lawful wedded husband?" the officiant asked,

n't breathe. Couldn't speak. For a

as a blade. There was no softness,

somehow, the word s

"And do you, Adrian

fore he could finish. His voi

closed the book in his hands. "By the power vest

nd an

n Amara's ears l

ove. He didn't so much as touch her hand. He simply slipped a cold platinum band o

eart

every girl dreamed of. And yet, instead of laugh

-

ra followed Adria

palace of glass, steel, and stone. Chandeliers glittered overhead like frozen stars. Every corner of the marble floors gl

reathtaking. Instead,

r deeper into the mansion. His strides were long and confident, his back straight, his

or in the east wing. He opened it wit

m," he sa

lls, silk curtains, a massive bed covered in crisp white sheets, a balcony

truth. This wasn't a sanct

her fingers curling into

p and unreadable. "Did you think s

lushed. "N-n

his marriage is nothing more than an arran

been relieved. She didn't want to share his bed. She d

est ti

e could stop herself. "Why me,

drian's jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing sligh

don't mak

they a compliment? An insult?

ed away. His footsteps echoed down the hallway

oom too grand for her, a ring too heavy on he

Adria

nees trembling. Her wedding night-her first ni

-

ara stared at the ceiling. She couldn't

d in her ears. If I don't sta

done this for him. For hi

er life? What ab

k. She couldn't afford weakness. Not now. Not wh

urface glinting in the moonlight. She wanted to rip

much she hated it, i

o her side, he

aze. His commanding voice. The way he spoke wit

omach

e was wrong. She may have signed the cont

ive. And maybe, just maybe, she

ance was the very thing that had caugh

tudy, Adrian Cole sat in silence, sipping a glass of wh

y, a smirk tugging at

had only