The woman in silver glittering dress and Black mask

Chapter 16

LEONE

The days before the party were long, restless nights for me. I didn’t sleep much. Every time I closed my eyes and tried to have a peaceful sleep, my mind dragged me back to the same thoughts — that have been tormenting since my grandfather spoke to me in his office —the masquerade ball, the faces I needed to see, and the ones needed to be kept away. And most of all… Grandfather Lucien.

He had already emphasized that he knew about my affairs. I didn’t like the way he looked at me since then—cold, sharp, as if measuring how close I was to disappointing him completely.

I could see it in the way he looked at me lately, those cold eyes, sharp as a blade, watching every breath I took. And that made me act out because I needed him to see that I still had control. That I still knew how to play the perfect king, husband, and man he wanted me to be.

Grandfather had found out about my affairs and made it clear that he knew. And ever since he released the bombshell to me, he'd b