บททั้งหมดของ Beneath His Cold Vows: บทที่ 31 - บทที่ 40

Lucy arrived like a storm disguised as sunlight. Late, of course—fashionably late. "I'm so sorry I'm late!" Her voice landed on the terrace, breathy and practiced. She wore a blue that photographed like grace and cost more than a week in Paris. Even the wind seemed to slow for her. "Traffic," she said. It wasn’t. She lived twenty minutes away, in the opposite direction. But everyone treated her as if she’d done something miraculous. Vivienne rose to meet her; her silk dress catching the sun, the faint gleam of gold on her wrist adding a final touch of polish. "Lucy, darling. You're here. That’s all that matters." Darling. I had Alicia. Lucy had darling. She moved through the guests with the exact ease of someone who’d rehearsed every greeting: Senator Whitmore, Jennifer Caldwell, the Harrisons—kisses, laughter, small talk. Her perfume trailed like an invitation and a warning. She reached Edward last. Her kiss dropped on his cheek, light and familiar, but I felt every ounce

Edward's POV The dessert plates were cleared. Coffee appeared in delicate porcelain cups. Senator Whitmore pushed back from the table with a satisfied sigh. "Vivienne, that was exceptional. As always." "I'm so glad you enjoyed it." Mother's smile was gracious, effortless. "Shall we move to the sitting room?" she suggested. "Or the garden, if anyone prefers. The air is rather pleasant." People began to stand. Chairs scraped softly against stone. The formal structure of the meal dissolved into something looser. Harrison waited until the others drifted toward the garden before speaking. "About the companies you’re acquiring stakes in," he said quietly. "The boards I sit on will want assurances before any approval goes through." We stepped toward the edge of the terrace where the garden sloped down. "I expected that," I replied. "They’ll have full assurances. Audit completed, projections updated, management aligned. Any concerns will be addressed before formal approval." He studie

Alicia’s POVMonday morning arrived with gray light and the sound of Edward leaving for work.I heard his footsteps on the stairs, the front door closing, the car engine fading down the driveway.Then silence.I lay there for another twenty minutes, staring at the ceiling, before I finally moved.My phone buzzed on the nightstand. I reached for it.Work Email—Alexander Pierce, Managing Director:Alicia,We understand what you’re going through. Don’t worry about work, your position is safe, and everything will be ready when you return.Family comes first. Always.Best,Alexander.I read it twice.My position was secure.I should have felt trapped, should have seen Edward’s influence here, another thread in his web.But I didn’t.I felt relief. Pure, simple relief.One less thing to worry about. One less mask to keep in place.I could barely get through a day without vomiting or crying or both. The idea of sitting in an office, pretending to be functional... I couldn’t.I set the phone

Edward’s POVThe whiskey burned on the way down, a heat that climbed and lingered, settling in my chest like a tightening knot. I stood at the kitchen counter with the glass in hand. The bedroom door had closed behind her, soft and definite. She had been at the hospital all day. Or so she said.I had errands.Her answer had been too quick. Too vague. I took another sip and stared at nothing. She looked pale—the pale that was not just fatigue. I could have asked. I did not. Questions open doors. I keep them shut.I finished the drink, rinsed the glass, and left it in the dish rack. The phone rested face up on the counter, the pendant light tracing its edges, a dark slab that seemed to wait for me. An email from Whitmore blinked insistently. Promises made to a dozen men who wanted certainty, investor meetings lined up back-to-back.The house settled around me. The silence weighed against the walls. I turned off the kitchen lights and went upstairs.The bedroom was dark. Alicia lay facin

I set the phone down on the counter carefully, as if it might explode if I moved too quickly.The kitchen tilted slightly. Or maybe I did.I needed to move. Do something. Anything.Upstairs. Clothes. I had to—My legs carried me before I finished the thought. One step. Another. The stairs stretched longer than they should have.The bedroom was too bright. Morning light streamed through windows I’d forgotten to close last night. Everything looked normal. Clean. Untouched.Like my world hadn’t just split open.I walked to the closet and pulled a sweater from the hanger. Gray. Shapeless. The kind of thing that required no thought.I dragged it over my head. It caught on my chin and I yanked it down, heard something tear at the seam. I didn’t care.Jeans next.My hands fumbled with the button. It wouldn’t go through the hole. My fingers were shaking too much. I tried again. And again.Finally, it fastened.Shoes.I kicked aside a pair of black heels—the ones Edward bought for some benefit