Chapter 7

Leanne's voice was clear and crisp, carrying a hint of pleasant surprise at finally finding someone, as if the amorous scene from just now had never happened.

She walked forward, her gaze landing on Charlotte as if she'd only just noticed her. She asked with mild curiosity, "Charlotte, you're here, too? What were you two talking about so intently? We walked right up, and you didn't even notice us."

The words sounded gentle enough, but they slid in like a knife wrapped in velvet, landing exactly where it hurt most.

Parker broke out in a cold sweat. He stammered and stuttered, but he couldn't get a single word out.

Connie stepped up, grinding her teeth. "Charlotte, didn't you say you weren't feeling well and already went home?"

Charlotte instantly understood. A faintly embarrassed smile appeared on her face. "I was going to go home, but I accidentally got lost and walked into a spiderweb. Luckily, I ran into Parker…"

She trailed off, but it was just enough to explain away why she'd been so close to Parker just now.

Connie smiled and nodded. "So that's what happened. I'll have a maid walk you out."

With that, Charlotte said a quick goodbye and got ready to leave.

"Wait."

No one expected Leanne to suddenly speak up.

Parker hurried forward, stepping in front of Charlotte as if to shield her. "Leanne, don't take this the wrong way. There's nothing between Charlotte and me. I think of her as a little sister."

Leanne just smiled and sidestepped him, walking up to Charlotte. She raised her hand.

Everyone watching thought she was about to slap Charlotte and moved as if to stop her, but all she did was gently brush her fingers through Charlotte's hair with a soft smile. "You missed a spot in your hair."

Charlotte froze for a second, her face pale as she forced out a smile. "Thanks, Leanne."

Once Charlotte left, Leanne turned back. "Mrs. Jewell, let's head back, too. It really is pretty hot today."

…

The car merged into the glittering stream of headlights in the night. Leanne lowered the window, and the night breeze, laced with the neon glow of the city, rushed in. It blew away the faint, disgusting smell that still clung to her from the Jewell residence.

She turned on the stereo and put on a rock track with a heavy beat. The drums pounded, one hit after another, landing squarely on her heart. She didn't feel agitated or aggravated but a sense of release.

She'd won. Round one had ended in her victory.

Watching the expressions on Parker's and Charlotte's faces shift from smug to startled to bloodless and terrified was more effective at keeping her spirited than ten cups of iced coffee.

Especially Charlotte. The way she'd clapped a hand over her mouth, the calculation in her eyes washed completely clean by fear, leaving behind nothing but a raw, animalistic panic…

It was pathetic.

The corners of Leanne's lips curled up. This was only the beginning.

Just thinking about the elaborate trap she'd already laid out made this whole game feel more and more entertaining. She would be the most patient audience, sitting back and watching as Parker and Charlotte stumbled around in their own web of lies.

She would enjoy the show as they edged toward madness step by step, until they finally turned on each other like rabid dogs.

The car slid into the underground garage.

The moment Leanne's feet sank into the soft house slippers, the exhaustion from pulling an all-nighter the night before, mixed with the sudden relaxation after hours of being keyed up, crashed over her like a tidal wave.

She had no idea how long she had slept before she woke up from the thirst. Her throat burned as if it were on fire, and her head felt thick and foggy.

She forced herself upright. The room was pitch-black, with only a thin strip of blurry light sneaking through the gap in the curtains.

Leanne shook her head to clear it, then felt her way out of bed, planning to head to the kitchen for a glass of water. But the door she pushed open was the one to the master bedroom's bathroom. It wasn't locked, only pulled to.

The rush of water thundered in her ears, and thick steam rolled out, wrapping around her in an instant.

Leanne stopped short. Through the frosted glass partition, the silhouette of a tall, broad-shouldered man stood out in sharp outline. He had wide shoulders, a toned waist, and clean lines of muscle that showed even under the cascade of water. He radiated pure strength.

It was Aiden.

The water slowed. He must have sensed something at the door; he turned slightly to the side.

Even with the layer of frosted glass between them, Leanne could feel his gaze land on her, carrying a hint of surprise at being interrupted.

At this point, any other woman would've screamed, covered her face, and bolted.

But Leanne didn't. She just stood there, and in the instant she fully registered what she was seeing, the fog in her head cleared to razor-sharp focus. She was done pretending to be some demure society lady.

She even took another step forward, lazily leaning her shoulder against the doorframe. She folded her arms across her chest and stared straight at the frosted glass without a flicker of shyness.

"Nice body," she said. Her voice was rough from sleep but still clear enough to cut through the steam. "Much better than Parker—you know, all looks and no performance."

The bathroom went dead silent. Even the sound of water droplets hitting the floor seemed muted. A few seconds later, a long, bony hand reached out and turned off the shower completely.

Aiden stepped out from behind the glass. He had nothing on below the waist except a towel slung low around his hips. Water slid down his sharply defined abs and disappeared into the edge of the towel, leaving plenty to the imagination.

His short hair was damp and clung to his forehead. The eyes that were usually shadowed and unreadable looked especially clear in the rising steam.

He stared at Leanne, none of the anger she expected in his gaze. She stayed where she was, still lounging against the doorframe. She wore a champagne-colored slip dress, now wrinkled from sleep. Her long hair was a bit messy, and her bare face looked vividly alive in the haze of steam.

Most of all, her eyes were bright—almost shockingly so.

"Out." Aiden's voice was low, with a strain in it that was easy to miss if one wasn't listening closely.

Leanne raised an eyebrow. Instead of moving, she smiled.

"Why?" she asked lazily. "We've registered our marriage, Mr. Jewell. We're legally husband and wife. Sooner or later, I'm going to see everything anyway."

Her gaze deliberately swept down and back up, lingering on his eight-pack for a couple of seconds before she added, "Besides, it's not like I'm getting the short end of the stick here."

Her provocation was like striking a match in a room full of gasoline fumes.

Aiden's eyes suddenly turned dangerously dark. His Adam's apple bobbed in a subtle swallow as he looked at her, so completely unfazed and even a little playful. It was almost as if she were teasing him.

She never failed to throw him off balance. He'd thought she would cry, kick up a fuss, or at the very least, react like some frightened creature. But she hadn't.

She'd laid out her plans with a calm head and switched men without hesitation. Now, she was even daring to flirt with him like this, practically daring him to do something about it.

Interesting.

The next second, Leanne felt the world blur. Aiden, who'd been standing a few steps away, was suddenly right in front of her. His scent—clean soap layered over something sharply, undeniably male—crashed over her like a wave.

There was a dull thud as her back hit the cold wall hard.

Aiden planted one hand beside her head, caging her neatly between his body and the wall, his other hand wrapping around her wrist. He bent down, his breath brushing hot against her cheek. Drops of water slid from his hair and splashed onto her collarbone, sending a faint shiver down her spine.

"Leanne Knight," he said, his lips nearly at her ear, every word low and edged with danger. "Do you have any idea what kind of game you're playing?"

Leanne's heart stuttered once, but she didn't back down. Instead, she tipped her chin up and met those dark, unfathomable eyes head-on.

"Nope," she replied, smiling like a sly little fox. "But since I've already seen everything, Mr. Jewell… Are you planning to make me take responsibility?"