Chapter 1

A second later, Silas pushed open the door, carrying a cup of chamomile tea.

He set the tea beside me and said flatly,

"It's almost ten, Sophia. Is there anything else you need to tell me?"

I shook my head. "No."

"Lina wanted me to tell you she's sorry. She feels bad about all the trouble she's caused you."

Silas leaned down and kissed my cheek, his eyes soft. "Get some sleep when you're done. Don't wear yourself out."

Before I could answer, he left the study.

I sat there staring into space. As I was about to get up, my computer screen lit up.

A call from Lina flashed across the screen, a notification synced from Silas's phone.

The man who refused every call after ten answered in a second.

I smiled, got up, and poured the entire cup of tea down the toilet.

By the time I got back to the bedroom, Silas had his eyes closed. He looked like he was asleep.

Lying in the dark, I messaged my parents in New York. I told them I'd enter the contest to become our family's heir in seven days.

They texted back right away, "Welcome home, Sophia."

I slept less than four hours and still woke up right on time.

After so many years together, I'd fallen into Silas's routine.

Silas was in the shower.

His phone lay face down. When I touched it, it was burning hot.

I skimmed the other candidates' files, then went downstairs with my plan to contain the fallout from Lina's data leak.

I handed Silas the plan. "If you have any notes, just email them to me."

I turned to leave, but Silas stepped in front of me and nodded toward the coffeepot across the room.

"Where's my coffee?"

I looked down so I wouldn't have to meet his eyes. "Work's been crazy lately. You can make it yourself."

I pressed my lips together. "Or ask Lina. She already takes care of your day-to-day needs. She'd be better at it than I am."

Silas smiled. "Lina's thoughtful, sure. But nobody knows how I take my coffee like you do."

I gave him a faint smile and didn't answer.

Silas headed for the door. "Oh, and today's the anniversary of Lina's mother's death. I'm worried her PTSD will flare up, so I asked her to come to the office. I can't have lunch with you today."

I stopped short.

"Okay."

Lina's mother had died in a fire while rescuing Silas from his kidnappers. To repay that debt, he brought Lina into the Lazzari family, gave her money and connections, and treated her like the family's princess.

I'd always thought it was gratitude. Now it looked as if his feelings had crossed a line long ago.

I took out my phone and deleted every wedding-planning file Silas had sent me.

I wasn't going to need them anymore.