Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 61 - Chapitre 70

The Valentian sunset painted the sky in shades of orange and rose as our car wound its way up a cypress-lined road. After twelve hours on a plane with my in-laws and an exhausting day in Virelia, my body begged for rest, but my eyes refused to close for even a second—not with so much beauty around me. "We're almost there," Christian said, pointing toward the bend ahead. When the car finally rounded the last curve, my breath caught. Rising before us, bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun, stood a Castorian villa that looked like it belonged in a film. Built from honey-colored stone, with tall windows framed by green shutters, the house stretched majestically atop the hill. Perfect rows of vines spilled down the adjacent valley, forming a hypnotic pattern of green and earth. "Kensington Villa," Christian announced, pride threading his voice in a way I rarely heard when he spoke of the mansion in Verdania. "It's…" I searched for words, but none seemed worthy. "Magnificent."

I remained lying among the vines, my body still thrumming with desire as Christian stepped away to take his grandfather's call. The torn dress barely covered me, the black lingerie with red accents glowing under the moonlight. The night breeze caressed my overheated skin, slowly pulling me back to reality. The minutes dragged on as I stared up at the stars, my mind tangled with conflicting thoughts. What were we doing? This marriage had an expiration date—six months, no more. It was just a business arrangement. I wasn't supposed to get involved. For Christian, it would always be simple. Attraction. Sex. For me, it wasn't nearly that simple. Christian returned, slipping his phone into his pocket. His steps were steady as he approached, but his face carried a worried shadow in the moonlight. "You're overthinking," he observed, sitting down beside me between the vines. "I can practically hear the gears turning in your head." I tugged the torn fabric of my dress around me as best I

The voice sliced through the air like a knife, instantly shattering the intimacy that had built between us. Christian stiffened beside me, his entire body going rigid. When I turned, I came face to face with the familiar figure of Francesca Montgomery. She was as stunning as ever: perfectly tousled waves of dark hair, sun-bronzed skin, a summer dress that looked deceptively simple but no doubt cost a fortune. Her smile didn't reach the calculating eyes that assessed us. "Francesca," Christian greeted, his voice reverting to that cold, controlled tone I'd rarely heard since arriving in Valentia. "What a surprise to see you here." She laughed, a musical sound laced with false charm. "Surprise? You know very well my family always spends summers here, Christian. Just as yours does." Her gaze flicked to me. "Zoey, darling, how lovely to see you again. The wedding was so… unusual. I barely had a chance to speak with you." "Francesca," I replied with a nod. "I didn't expect to see y

As we walked back to the festival, a comfortable silence settled between us. The revelations about Christian's past with Francesca still weighed on my mind, but somehow, I felt he had truly opened up to me, showing a vulnerability he rarely let anyone see. The village's central square was even livelier now, lit by hundreds of colorful lanterns strung between centuries-old buildings. A local band played traditional Valentian music, and the aroma of regional food mingled with the sweet scent of ripe grapes. "Do you still want to stay?" Christian asked, his cautious look suggesting he half-expected me to want to return to the villa after our conversation. "Yes," I answered with more firmness than I'd anticipated. "I'm not letting anything ruin our night." A genuine smile lit up his face—that rare kind that reached his eyes and softened his features. "In that case, I think we arrived just in time," he said, pointing toward a small crowd gathering around a huge wooden vat. "It's a

The moon spilled its silver light over the vineyards as Christian pulled me into his arms with an urgency that mirrored my own desire. There were no words, only the sound of our ragged breaths as he gently laid me down between the rows of vines that now bore my name. The soft earth beneath my back contrasted with the solid weight of Christian's body over mine. His hands explored my curves through the wine-stained dress, lingering in places that made me sigh. "This dress is in the way," he murmured against my neck, his fingers finding the zipper at my back. "Then take it off," I challenged, lifting myself slightly to help. The fabric slid down my body, leaving me in nothing but black lingerie I had bought in Virelia. Christian's eyes darkened as he took me in under the moonlight. My pale skin was in stark contrast with the black lace and the deep green of the vines around us. "My God, Zoey," he whispered, tracing the curve of my breasts with his fingers. "You're perfect." Hi