Aria stood motionless. The tears on her cheeks had long since dried, leaving only the emptiness in her eyes. Rowan took another cautious step toward her. "Aria..." His voice was softer than she had ever heard it. “Please." She flinched. It was a small movement. Barely noticeable. But it was enough to make Rowan stop where he was. He looked as though someone had driven a blade through his heart. "I know I don't deserve your trust," he said quietly. "I know I don't deserve your forgiveness. But everything I told you after I met you was real." Aria let out a hollow laugh. "Real?" She finally looked at him. Those silver eyes he loved so much were filled with disbelief. "You looked me in the eyes, and never once told me that the reason you came into my life was because another man ordered you to." Rowan opened his mouth. Nothing came out. "There wasn't a day I didn't want to tell you." "Then why didn't you?" Her voice rose, breaking beneath the weight of her pain. "Why?" The qu
Read more