MARRIED TO MY EX-FATHER IN LAW.

LOLA'S POVThe bruise on my left cheekbone is turning purple, and I don't have enough concealer for this. I lean closer to the bathroom mirror, my breath fogging the glass. It's not as bad as last time. Last time, my eye swelled shut and I had to lie to the housekeeper about walking into a door. She didn't believe me, but she didn't say anything because nobody ever does. This is just a bruise. I can work with a bruise. My hands won't stop shaking as I reach for the foundation. The expensive kind. Ethan doesn't care what I spend on makeup as long as I look perfect when his associates visit. Can't have them seeing what he does behind closed doors. I dab foundation over my cheekbone and tears spring to my eyes. The bruise is so tender that even gentle pressure feels like he's hitting me all over again. I blink rapidly. Can't cry. If I cry, my eyes will get puffy and then he'll know. Layer after layer until the purple fades beneath beige. Then next, concealer, thick and heavy. There's

LOLA'S POV The glass slips from my fingers and shatters on the kitchen floor. For a moment, I just stare at it. At the glittering shards spreading across the tile like tiny diamonds. At the water pooling around the pieces. It was an accident. My hands were wet from washing dishes and the glass was slippery and it just... slipped. Just an accident. But I know that won't matter. "What the fuck was that?" Ethan's voice comes from the hallway and every muscle in my body locks up. My heart starts hammering so hard I can feel it in my throat. No. No, no, no. "I'm sorry," I say quickly, already dropping to my knees to pick up the pieces. "I'm so sorry, it was an accident, I'll clean it up right now..." He appears in the doorway and I see his face change. See the anger flash in his eyes like lightning before a storm. "Are you fucking kidding me right now?" "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, my hands were wet and it just slipped..." I'm picking up the glass too fast, not being careful, and a sha

LOLA'S POV I hear Ethan's office door slam and I know.I know what's coming.I'm still in the bedroom where Ocean found me, sitting on the edge of the bed with my hands clasped so tightly my knuckles are white. My heart is pounding so hard I can hear it in my ears.Ocean saw. He saw everything. My face, the bruises I couldn't hide, all the evidence of what Ethan does to me. And he confronted him. I heard raised voices downstairs, muffled through the floors but unmistakable. Ocean was angry. Really angry.For one brief, stupid moment, I let myself hope. Maybe this would be enough. Maybe Ocean would make it stop. Maybe someone finally cared enough to..."LOLA!"Ethan's voice echoes through the house and every muscle in my body locks up in terror.Oh god. Oh god, no."Get down here. NOW."My legs won't move. I'm frozen, rooted to the spot, because I know what's about to happen and I can't, I can't do this again...I can't"I said NOW!"Something crashes downstairs. Glass breaking. He's t

Over the next six hours, Daniel makes calls. Ocean listens to his side of the conversations, watches his second-in-command work through every possible option.Bryan? Too young, too impulsive. Says no immediately.Lilo? Already married, and his wife would never allow it.Various soldiers and enforcers? All give the same answer: too risky, don't want problems with Ethan, sorry boss but no.Men from allied families? Vincent Romano's people say it would violate their neutrality. Dmitri Volkov's people laugh and hang up. Daniel even reaches out to some of the independent operators, men who work on the fringes of the organization. Same result. No one wants to be the man who married Ethan Moretti's ex-wife.By evening, Daniel comes back to Ocean's office looking defeated."Nothing, boss. I've contacted forty-three men. Not one is willing to do it."Ocean is standing at his window watching the sunset. His reflection in the glass looks older than it did this morning."They're all afraid of my

The wedding takes place exactly thirty-six hours after Ocean's proposal. Father O'Brien arrives at Ocean's mansion in Belgravia at ten in the morning, looking uncomfortable. He's been the family's priest for twenty years, has performed weddings and funerals and baptisms for the organization. But this... this is different. Everyone can feel it.The ceremony is set up in Ocean's study. No decorations. No flowers. No guests except those who absolutely must be there. Daniel stands to Ocean's right, his face carefully neutral. Michael is there too, along with Lilo and Bryan. Ocean's inner circle, present as witnesses. And Ethan. Ocean insisted Ethan be there. Not as a guest. As a witness to the fact that his ex-wife is now untouchable. Ethan stands in the corner, his face purple with rage. His fists are clenched so tightly his knuckles are white. Every few seconds, a muscle in his jaw twitches. But he doesn't speak. Doesn't move. Because four of Ocean's security men are stationed around