로그인As soon as Rhys left, Hermione’s eyes fluttered open. She could hear him giving Eunice instructions outside before their footsteps faded. Relaxing, she stared at the ceiling.The sterile smell of the hospital made her feel queasy. She didn’t want to be here, but she also knew she couldn’t leave. She had passed out, which meant that her body must have been under too much strain.Before long, exhaustion pulled her under, and she drifted back to sleep. When she woke again, she was startled to find Evelyn Huxley sitting calmly, smoothing the edge of the sheet with gentle hands.Hermione sat up abruptly. “Mrs. Huxley?”Evelyn paused, blinking in surprise, then offered a gentle smile. “If you won’t call me mother, at least use Evelyn. I thought we were past formalities.”Hermione opened her mouth, then closed it. “What are you doing here?”“My idiot son told me what happened, so I came right away,” Evelyn said with a sigh. “You’ve just gotten married, and he can’t even take proper care of y
Rhys stormed into his study, still seething.He knew he’d been harsh, but the image of Hermione with Cole kept replaying behind his eyes, fueling his rage. He felt like destroying something. ‘Maybe I should buy out his company,’ he thought darkly, dropping into his chair. He wanted to strip Cole of everything and watch him and Hermione suffer.He grabbed a stack of paperwork, desperate for a distraction. But the numbers blurred. The words refused to stick. His mind kept drifting back to her face, the way she had looked at him after his accusations. She had looked repulsed.Something lodged in his chest like a shard of glass.Maybe he had overreacted, he thought, but quickly shoved the thought aside and forced his attention back to the documents. Minutes passed, and he still couldn’t concentrate. Finally, he threw down his pen and pushed back from the desk.He needed some air.He grabbed his keys and headed for the door, but he nearly collided with Eunice in the hallway. The housekeep
Hermione returned home feeling worse than she had this morning.The illness had been building all day, simmering beneath her skin, and Cole’s iron grip on her wrist had only made things worse. She barely made it through the front door before Eunice was there, eyes widening in alarm.“Ma’am, you’re burning up.” The housekeeper rushed to her side, wrapping an arm around her waist for support. “I’m calling the doctor right now.”Hermione managed a weak smile. “It’s just a headache. It’ll pass.”“That’s what you said this morning, and look at you now.” Eunice’s voice was firm with worry as she guided her toward the stairs. “You’d blow away in a strong wind. And you didn’t even eat breakfast before rushing off. Mr. Rhys will have my head if he finds out I let you—”“He doesn’t need to know.” She said, “It’s probably a cold. Don’t bother him with something so petty.”Eunice helped her into bed, and Hermione nearly groaned with relief as she sank into the mattress. She looked up at the hous
The luxurious private dining room at Lake Restaurant was designed for men like Rhys Huxley, men who conducted billion-dollar deals over courses most couldn’t name and wines most people couldn’t afford. Crystal chandeliers. White-gloved service. Soundproof walls that kept secrets exactly where they belonged.Rhys sat at the head of the table, listening to Markus Vancroft lay out his expansion plan. The German industrialist had built his automation company from nothing in just eleven years. Now he wanted a foothold in the capital.Rhys was intrigued but cautious.Markus was in his early thirties. His company had expanded across Europe at an aggressive pace. Every major investment firm in the city wanted a piece of Vancroft Automation. Yet Markus had approached them first. “I believe your chain of restaurants would greatly need some of our latest automation. The world is now run by technology. We are offering you high-end automated service systems. Smart ordering stations. Kitchen robot
The next morning, Hermione woke up staring at the ceiling. She could still feel the weight of the ring on her finger. She’d spent the entire night overthinking, turning scenarios over in her mind until they blurred into nonsense.What was Rhys thinking? Why the sudden kindness? Why dig up memories they’d both sworn to bury? He was planning something; he had to be. But for the life of her, she couldn’t figure it out.She pushed herself up from the bed and immediately regretted it. The room tilted, and her head pounded. She pressed a hand to her forehead and frowned. She was warm. Too warm.She was coming up with something.She stumbled to her dresser and pulled open the drawer where she kept medication. Her hand brushed against something small. A box. She pulled it out, and her expression soured instantly.It was Cole’s engagement ring. She’d completely forgotten about it.She opened the box and stared at the band inside. It was a thin gold ring with a modest crystal, unremarkable in
Rhys sat behind his desk, phone pressed to his ear, watching the morning sun seep through his office window.“Cut all ties with Mr. Walker’s corporation. Every contract, every partnership, I want them gone by morning.” His voice was calm, which made it worse. “And make sure he loses every investment we control. I want to watch his stocks plummet.”A pause as his assistant confirmed.“Good. Maybe that’ll teach him to keep his damn eyes to himself.”He ended the call and dropped the phone on his desk.He was infuriated. The memory of Walker’s gaze crawling over Hermione made his hands curl into fists. He’d wanted to gouge the man’s eyes out right there in the hallway. Instead, he’d smiled, sent Hermione to the car, and handled it like a businessman. Mr. Walker was going to regret ever knowing him.He shook his head and reached for his tablet.The tabloids had exploded, just as expected. His PR team had released an official statement confirming the marriage, but the public was still hung
“Is there anything you’d like?” Rhys asked as the auction began. Hermione shook her head. “No.” Then she shifted, grabbing his hand where it rested on her thigh. “No one is looking. You don’t have to keep up appearances anymore.” Rhys glanced at her, one brow arching. “Why? Does it make you uncomf
Rhys watched as Hermione effortlessly wrapped his parents around her finger. She had always possessed that magnetic charm. Maybe it was her beauty, or her poise and eloquence. Whatever it was, people were either drawn to her instantly or despised her out of jealousy. There was rarely an in-between.
Hermione knew Sarah was only here to push her buttons. The woman liked starting gossip, and Hermione was her favorite target. It wasn’t the first time she’d started a stunt like this. “Isn't it Windsor tradition that a woman must be married before twenty-five? Otherwise, they arrange one for you. I
Hermione opened the large box Eunice had delivered to her room. Inside, nestled in layers of tissue paper, was a stunning black dress that seemed to drink the light. Beside it sat a pair of delicate heels, an elegant clutch, and set apart on a velvet stand was a golden mask that practically shouted







