LOGINThe morning was beautiful.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 how we started. About how we ended up here."He pulled me close, his arms strong around me. "We started as enemies."I smiled. "And now?"He touched my face. "Now we're perfect."We
The morning was warm.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 being chosen. About what it means."He pulled me close, his arms strong around me. "What does it mean?"I looked at him. "It means I'm not a mistake."He touched my face, his thumb brush
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 freedom. About what it means."He pulled me close, his arms strong around me. "What does it mean?"I looked at him. "It means I'm not trapped anymore."He touched my face, his thumb br
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 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 contract. About what it meant."He pulled me close, his arms strong around me. "It meant nothing."I looked at him. "It meant everything. It was the beginning."He touched my face,
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. 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 warehouse door was unlocked.Rex pushed it open. The hinges screamed. Inside was darkness. Thick. Heavy. The kind of darkness that pressed against your skin and made the hair on your arms stand up.I reached for my gun. Rex shook his head."Not yet," he whispered. "We do not know where the came
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







