LOGINThe morning was quiet.I stood at the window, watching the sun rise. The garden was green and alive. The roses were blooming, their petals soft and fragrant in the early light. The air smelled of flowers and new beginnings, of earth and hope. The world outside was waking up, just like I was.Rex walked to me, his footsteps soft on the wooden floor. The boards creaked beneath his weight, a familiar sound that had become my comfort. His hand found my waist, warm and solid through the thin fabric of my dress."You're up early."I leaned into him, feeling the strength of his body against mine. "I couldn't sleep."He kissed my temple, his lips lingering. "What were you thinking about?"I turned to face him, my hands resting on his chest. I could feel his heartbeat beneath my palms, steady and strong. "About revenge. About how it brought us here."He pulled me close, his arms strong around me. "Revenge brought me to you."I looked at him. "It brought us together."He nodded. "Yes. It did."
The morning was soft.I stood at the window, watching the sun rise. The garden was green and alive. The roses were blooming, their petals soft and fragrant in the early light. The air smelled of flowers and new beginnings, of earth and hope. The world outside was waking up, just like I was.Rex walked to me, his footsteps soft on the wooden floor. The boards creaked beneath his weight, a familiar sound that had become my comfort. His hand found my waist, warm and solid through the thin fabric of my dress."You're up early."I leaned into him, feeling the strength of his body against mine. "I couldn't sleep."He kissed my temple, his lips lingering. "What were you thinking about?"I turned to face him, my hands resting on his chest. I could feel his heartbeat beneath my palms, steady and strong. "About the beginning. About how I was the wrong bride."He pulled me close, his arms strong around me. "You were never the wrong bride."I looked at him. "I signed Isabella's name. I wore her d
The morning was golden.I stood at the window, watching the sun rise. The garden was green and alive. The roses were blooming, their petals soft and fragrant in the early light. The air smelled of flowers and new beginnings, of earth and hope. The world outside was waking up, just like I was.Rex walked to me, his footsteps soft on the wooden floor. The boards creaked beneath his weight, a familiar sound that had become my comfort. His hand found my waist, warm and solid through the thin fabric of my dress."You're up early."I leaned into him, feeling the strength of his body against mine. "I couldn't sleep."He kissed my temple, his lips lingering. "What were you thinking about?"I turned to face him, my hands resting on his chest. I could feel his heartbeat beneath my palms, steady and strong. "About us. About everything we've been through."He pulled me close, his arms strong around me. "We've been through a lot."I looked at him. At his storm-cloud eyes. "Yes. We have."We walked
The morning was quiet.I stood at the window, watching the sun rise. The garden was green and alive. The roses were blooming, their petals soft and fragrant in the early light, their colors deepening as the sun climbed higher. The air smelled of flowers and new beginnings, of earth and hope. The world outside was waking up, just like I was.Rex walked to me, his footsteps soft on the wooden floor. The boards creaked beneath his weight, a familiar sound that had become my comfort. His hand found my waist, warm and solid through the thin fabric of my dress."You're up early."I leaned into him, feeling the strength of his body against mine, the steady rhythm of his breathing. "I couldn't sleep."He kissed my temple, his lips lingering. "What were you thinking about?"I turned to face him, my hands resting on his chest. I could feel his heartbeat beneath my palms, steady and strong, a rhythm I had come to know better than my own. "About everything. About how far we've come."He pulled me
The morning was bright.I stood at the window, watching the sun rise. The garden was green and alive. The roses were blooming, their petals soft and fragrant. The air smelled of flowers and new beginnings, of earth and hope. The world outside was waking up, just like I was.Rex walked to me, his footsteps soft on the wooden floor. The boards creaked beneath his weight, a familiar sound that had become my comfort. His hand found my waist, warm and solid through the thin fabric of my dress."You're up early."I leaned into him, feeling the strength of his body against mine. "I couldn't sleep."He kissed my temple, his lips lingering. "What were you thinking about?"I turned to face him, my hands resting on his chest. I could feel his heartbeat beneath my palms, steady and strong. "About who I am. About who I've become."He touched my face, his thumb brushing my cheek. "Who are you?"I looked at him. At his storm-cloud eyes. At the man who had seen me at my worst and loved me anyway. "I
The evening was quiet.I stood by the window, watching the sun set. The sky was painted in shades of pink and gold, bleeding into deep purple at the edges. The garden was peaceful, the roses swaying gently in the evening breeze. The children were inside, laughing and playing, their voices carrying through the open windows like music.Rex walked to me, his footsteps soft on the wooden floor. The boards creaked beneath his weight, a familiar sound that had become my comfort. His hand found my waist, warm and solid through the fabric of my dress."What are you thinking?"I leaned into him, feeling the strength of his body against mine. "I'm thinking about how far we've come."He kissed my temple, his lips lingering. "We've come a long way."I turned to face him, my hands resting on his chest. I could feel his heartbeat beneath my palms, steady and strong. "Yes. We have."He pulled me close, his arms strong around me. "I love you, Sable."I looked at him. At his storm-cloud eyes. "I love
The house felt different after midnight.I had been sitting in the dark for hours. The bedroom was empty. Rex was somewhere else – his study, probably, staring at maps and photographs and evidence I was not allowed to see. The rain had stopped. The world was quiet.Too quiet.My burner phone buzzed
Isabella stood in the doorway. Shaking. Her perfect hair was messy. Her dress was wrinkled. She looked like someone who had just seen a ghost.Or a corpse.Rex was already moving. Gun in hand. He grabbed my wrist. Pulled me off the bed.Stay behind me, he said.I did not argue. I grabbed my dress f
The bedroom door closed behind me. Rex had not followed.I stood in the dark and pressed my hand to my mouth. Isabella's words were still burning in my chest. I have been sleeping with Father for three years. You are payment.I should have felt rage. I felt relief.Now I did not have to pretend. No
I woke to the smell of cedar and a hand on my hip.His hand. Still there. Exactly where it had been when I fell asleep. Rex Marchetti had not moved an inch. His breathing was slow, even. Eyes closed. Dark lashes against sharp cheekbones. He looked almost peaceful. Almost human.I should have slippe







