LOGINThe morning was golden.I stood at the window, watching the sun rise. The garden was green and alive. The roses were blooming, their petals soft and fragrant in the early light. The air smelled of flowers and new beginnings, of earth and hope. The world outside was waking up, just like I was.Rex walked to me, his footsteps soft on the wooden floor. The boards creaked beneath his weight, a familiar sound that had become my comfort. His hand found my waist, warm and solid through the thin fabric of my dress."You're up early."I leaned into him, feeling the strength of his body against mine. "I couldn't sleep."He kissed my temple, his lips lingering. "What were you thinking about?"I turned to face him, my hands resting on his chest. I could feel his heartbeat beneath my palms, steady and strong. "About freedom. About what it means."He pulled me close, his arms strong around me. "What does it mean?"I looked at him. "It means I'm not trapped anymore."He touched my face, his thumb br
The morning was bright.I stood at the window, watching the sun rise. The garden was green and alive. The roses were blooming, their petals soft and fragrant in the early light. The air smelled of flowers and new beginnings, of earth and hope. The world outside was waking up, just like I was.Rex walked to me, his footsteps soft on the wooden floor. The boards creaked beneath his weight, a familiar sound that had become my comfort. His hand found my waist, warm and solid through the thin fabric of my dress."You're up early."I leaned into him, feeling the strength of his body against mine. "I couldn't sleep."He kissed my temple, his lips lingering. "What were you thinking about?"I turned to face him, my hands resting on his chest. I could feel his heartbeat beneath my palms, steady and strong. "About the contract. About what it meant."He pulled me close, his arms strong around me. "It meant nothing."I looked at him. "It meant everything. It was the beginning."He touched my face,
The morning was quiet.I stood at the window, watching the sun rise. The garden was green and alive. The roses were blooming, their petals soft and fragrant in the early light. The air smelled of flowers and new beginnings, of earth and hope. The world outside was waking up, just like I was.Rex walked to me, his footsteps soft on the wooden floor. The boards creaked beneath his weight, a familiar sound that had become my comfort. His hand found my waist, warm and solid through the thin fabric of my dress."You're up early."I leaned into him, feeling the strength of his body against mine. "I couldn't sleep."He kissed my temple, his lips lingering. "What were you thinking about?"I turned to face him, my hands resting on his chest. I could feel his heartbeat beneath my palms, steady and strong. "About revenge. About how it brought us here."He pulled me close, his arms strong around me. "Revenge brought me to you."I looked at him. "It brought us together."He nodded. "Yes. It did."
The morning was soft.I stood at the window, watching the sun rise. The garden was green and alive. The roses were blooming, their petals soft and fragrant in the early light. The air smelled of flowers and new beginnings, of earth and hope. The world outside was waking up, just like I was.Rex walked to me, his footsteps soft on the wooden floor. The boards creaked beneath his weight, a familiar sound that had become my comfort. His hand found my waist, warm and solid through the thin fabric of my dress."You're up early."I leaned into him, feeling the strength of his body against mine. "I couldn't sleep."He kissed my temple, his lips lingering. "What were you thinking about?"I turned to face him, my hands resting on his chest. I could feel his heartbeat beneath my palms, steady and strong. "About the beginning. About how I was the wrong bride."He pulled me close, his arms strong around me. "You were never the wrong bride."I looked at him. "I signed Isabella's name. I wore her d
The morning was golden.I stood at the window, watching the sun rise. The garden was green and alive. The roses were blooming, their petals soft and fragrant in the early light. The air smelled of flowers and new beginnings, of earth and hope. The world outside was waking up, just like I was.Rex walked to me, his footsteps soft on the wooden floor. The boards creaked beneath his weight, a familiar sound that had become my comfort. His hand found my waist, warm and solid through the thin fabric of my dress."You're up early."I leaned into him, feeling the strength of his body against mine. "I couldn't sleep."He kissed my temple, his lips lingering. "What were you thinking about?"I turned to face him, my hands resting on his chest. I could feel his heartbeat beneath my palms, steady and strong. "About us. About everything we've been through."He pulled me close, his arms strong around me. "We've been through a lot."I looked at him. At his storm-cloud eyes. "Yes. We have."We walked
The morning was quiet.I stood at the window, watching the sun rise. The garden was green and alive. The roses were blooming, their petals soft and fragrant in the early light, their colors deepening as the sun climbed higher. The air smelled of flowers and new beginnings, of earth and hope. The world outside was waking up, just like I was.Rex walked to me, his footsteps soft on the wooden floor. The boards creaked beneath his weight, a familiar sound that had become my comfort. His hand found my waist, warm and solid through the thin fabric of my dress."You're up early."I leaned into him, feeling the strength of his body against mine, the steady rhythm of his breathing. "I couldn't sleep."He kissed my temple, his lips lingering. "What were you thinking about?"I turned to face him, my hands resting on his chest. I could feel his heartbeat beneath my palms, steady and strong, a rhythm I had come to know better than my own. "About everything. About how far we've come."He pulled me
The kitchen was quiet.Too quiet.Catherine stood by the window. Her back was to me. Her shoulders were tense. Elena sat at the table. Her hands were folded. Her eyes were on the red notebook in my hands.Rex stood by the door. His gun was in his holster. His eyes moved between the women like he wa
The basement door was locked.Rex stood beside me. His hand was on the key. His face was hard. Behind the door, Drake was chained to a chair. Wounded. Silent. Waiting.We had brought him here three hours ago. From the estate. From Victor's study. From the place where he had been hiding for three ye
The kitchen was quiet.Lena's phone sat on the table between us. The screen was dark now, but the messages were burned into my memory. Drake's words. Lena's fear. Promises made. Promises broken."Three years," I said.Rex looked at me. "What?""Victor has been dead for three years. The real Victor.
The garden was dark.The stars were out. The roses were invisible. Rex stood beside me. His hand was in mine. The traitor was somewhere in the house. Watching. Waiting. Planning."We cannot stay here all night," Rex said."I know.""Then what do you want to do?"I looked at the house. The windows w







