Web of Lies

Amber's pov

I woke up to pain aching through my body and immediately knew I had made a terrible mistake.

Bite marks covered my shoulders. My breasts. The inside of my thighs. Evidence of what I had done with Kade Blackwell screaming from every inch of my skin.

Oh God! Oh God!! What had I done?

I glanced at Kade sleeping beside me, one scarred arm thrown over his face. Even asleep, he looked dangerous and wild. Nothing like his brother, the polished billionaire I had married.

My stomach twisted with guilt. If Adrian found out, I would be ruined. The prenuptial agreement had a morality clause.

Adultery meant I lost everything. My shares in Sinclair Enterprises, my inheritance, even the apartment my father had left me. It did not matter that Adrian had cheated first. The contract only protected him.

I had to leave. Now.

I slid out of bed, biting back a whimper as my body protested. I grabbed my clothes from the floor and dressed quickly, hands shaking so badly I could barely zip my dress.

Every movement reminded me of Kade's hands on my hips, his mouth on my skin, the way my body had responded as it belonged to him.

No. I could not think about that. This was a mistake. Nothing more.

I rushed to the bathroom and turned the water as hot as it would go. I had to scrub off his scent before going home. Adrian would notice if I came back smelling like another man's perfume. I grabbed the soap and worked fast, my skin turning red under the harsh strokes.

But even as I tried to wash away the evidence, memories flooded back. The way Kade had looked at me like I mattered. The way my body had come alive under his touch. The way it had felt so terrifyingly right.

I had betrayed my husband. My family. Everything I was supposed to stand for. And for some stupid drunkness.

The water turned cold. I dried off and got dressed again, my heart pounding. I had to get out of here before Kade woke up. Before he said something that would make this harder than it already was.

But when I opened the bathroom door, he was sitting on the edge of the bed. Shirtless. A cigarette dangling from his lips. Watching me with those mismatched eyes that saw too much.

My body responded immediately. Heat filled my body despite everything. I was so drawn to him, and I could not understand why.

Maybe it was because of how he had made me feel last night. Even through the alcohol haze, I could still remember the warmth, the way he looked at me like I was beautiful and precious. I had never felt that way with Adrian.

"I have to go," I said.

Kade took a puff of his cigarette. "Yeah. You do."

That was it? No apology? No explanation?

Good. That made this easier.

I grabbed my shoes and headed for the door, but stopped halfway and turned to him.

"You think you can keep this between us?"

"Not that it matters." He shrugged, giving me a nonchalant look before his gaze returned to his cigarette. "After all, I am the black sheep. The destroyer. No one would believe me anyway."

"Goodbye, Kade," I spoke coldly, not ready to have any more conversation with him, especially with the way my body was calling out to him.

I left before he could say anything else.

The drive back to Manhattan felt like walking to my own execution. Every mile brought me closer to Adrian. Closer to the lies I would have to tell.

I practiced my story. Where I had been. Why was my phone dead? How to explain the exhaustion in my eyes?

Blackwell Tower appeared too soon. I parked in the private garage and took the elevator to the penthouse. Adrian's car was already there.

I barely stepped through the door before he was running toward me.

"Amber!" Adrian grabbed me, crushing me against his chest. "Thank God. I have been searching everywhere. Where were you?"

His expensive cologne wrapped around me. My stomach turned, caught between the guilt eating me alive and the anger at his hypocrisy.

"I was at Harper's," I lied. "You never came home last night, so I went to see her."

Adrian pulled back, his perfectly styled hair not a strand out of place, his gray eyes searching my face. "You should have called. I tried reaching you."

"My phone died."

"I was worried sick." His hands cupped my face. "I thought something happened."

The irony almost made me laugh. He was worried while he was inside Vivienne. While I had been crying over a birthday cake he forgot.

"Where were you?" I asked.

"Emergency board meeting with Senator Cross and some investors from Singapore." He said it so smoothly, like the lie did not cost him anything. "It ran all night. I did not want to wake you when I finally got home at three AM."

Liar.

"You could have texted."

"I know. I am so sorry, baby." He leaned down and kissed me.

I froze and waited for him to taste Kade on my lips. To smell his brother on my skin. To know what I had done and destroy me for it.

But Adrian just kissed me deeper, his tongue sliding against mine like nothing was wrong.

How did he not know? How could he not tell?

"I have something for you," Adrian said, pulling back with that charming smile I used to love. "I know I missed your birthday. Let me make it up to you."

He led me to the floor-to-ceiling windows. Down in the private parking spot sat a car I had never seen before. A sleek black Porsche with a red bow on the hood.

"Surprise!" He dangled the keys. "I know you have been eyeing these. Top of the line. Custom interior. Zero to sixty in three seconds."

I stared at the car. At the bow. At my husband's hopeful expression. Another guilt gift. Another way to keep me happy while he does whatever he wants.

"Adrian……."

"Do you like it?" He wrapped his arms around me from behind, resting his chin on my shoulder as I inhaled his scent. "Say you like it."

"It is perfect." I forced a smile on my face, even though I could hear the sound of my own heartbeat.

"Good." He kissed my neck. "Because you are perfect. You are everything to me, Amber. I love you. I will always love you."

He turned me around, his hands gentle on my waist. "Until death do us part, remember?"

Of course, I remembered standing in front of three hundred guests and promising to love him forever. To be faithful. To honor our vows.

I remembered everything I had just thrown away.

"I love you too," I whispered.

Another lie. But what was one more at this point?

Adrian smiled and kissed me again. His phone buzzed. He glanced at it, his expression flickering for just a second before the mask slid back into place.

"I have to take this. Business." He kissed my forehead. "Why don't you try out your new car? I will meet you for lunch at Per Se. One PM. My treat."

He disappeared into his home office, already talking in that smooth voice he used to manipulate people.

I stood alone in our penthouse, surrounded by luxury I had never asked for, wearing yesterday's dress, still feeling Kade's hands on my body.

My phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number.

*You forgot your earring. The diamond one. It's on my nightstand whenever you want to pick it up. - K*

My hand flew to my ear. One earring was missing. The Tiffany diamonds Adrian had given me for our anniversary.

Another text came through.

*Also, for what it's worth, you taste better when you're sober.*

Heat flooded my face. I deleted both messages immediately and blocked the number.

This could not happen again. It would not happen again.

But as I stood there staring at my reflection in the window, at the new car below, at the life I was supposed to want, I realized something terrifying.

I did not know which Blackwell brother I was lying to anymore.

Or which one I was lying for.

And somewhere deep inside, in a place I did not want to examine too closely, I knew I would see Kade again.

I just did not know if I would have the strength to walk away a second time.

One thing was certain, though I did not want to be caught in the web of two brothers. But the web was already tightening around me, and I had no idea how to escape.