جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 30

The dressing room still smelled like sex and perfume when the curtain slid open without a knock.I froze, crimson gown still clutched in my hands, heart slamming against my ribs. Marcus stepped inside first, tall and commanding in his black shirt, dark eyes locking onto mine with that familiar intensity. Behind him came Lucas, quieter than ever, his piercing gaze softening the second it found me.“Ava,” Marcus said, voice low and smooth. “We saw you leave the coordinator’s office looking like you’d seen a ghost. We’re not leaving you alone with this.”Lucas closed the curtain behind them, the fabric whispering shut like a seal. “We wanted to… practice. For the gala. Make sure you’re ready for them all to see you like this.”My stomach twisted. “They’re going to introduce you three publicly. As partners. Derek already told the coordinator. I heard it. What if the whole city sees us like this?”Marcus stepped closer, one large hand cupping my jaw. “Then they’ll see you exactly as you ar

The words Derek had whispered still echoed in my ears as we stepped out of the limousine in front of the grand guest wing.“She’s yours tonight.”Marcus’s hand stayed heavy and possessive at the small of my back, but his jaw was tight. Damien walked a half-step ahead, his usual wicked grin nowhere to be seen. Lucas moved on my other side, quiet and watchful, his piercing eyes never leaving my face.The front doors opened before we reached them. One of the maids stood there, eyes downcast. “Mr. Sterling’s guests have returned early, sir.”Derek’s voice came from the rear of the car, already distracted by his phone. “Good. Keep them comfortable. Ava, show them to their rooms if they need anything.”I nodded, the crimson gown suddenly feeling like chains against my skin. The moment the car pulled away, the men guided me inside, their bodies a wall between me and the rest of the house.Marcus didn’t speak until the front door clicked shut behind us.“Upstairs,” he said simply. “Guest wing

The kitchen clock ticked past five, but the sky outside was still dark indigo. Damien’s arms stayed locked around me long after the last strawberry was gone, his heartbeat steady against my cheek. The shirt he’d worn hung open, warm and smelling of him, but my mind was already racing. The gala. Derek’s quiet claim. The way the three of us had touched each other in public like it was the most natural thing in the world. I pressed a soft kiss to his chest. “I’m going to the library. I can’t sleep yet.” He hummed, eyes half-open. “Take your time. I’ll be right here when you come back.” I slipped out of his arms, pulled the shirt tighter around me, and padded down the long hallway toward the library wing. The mansion was silent except for the faint creak of old wood and the distant hum of the city waking up. My bare feet made no sound on the thick carpet. The librar

 Marcus’s hand stayed on my lower back as he walked me out of the office. His touch was warm, steady, but it felt wrong now. Like a lie. Every step I took made the file burn hotter in my mind—the names, the photos, the note about keeping me compliant. His fingers pressed a little harder, guiding me toward the guest wing, toward the bed where hours ago I’d felt safe. I stopped walking. “Ava?” He turned, face half in shadow. The hallway was dark except for a sliver of moonlight through the tall window at the end. “I left something in the office.” My voice came out flat. Dead. “It can wait until morning.” “No.” I pulled away from his hand. “It can’t.” Before he could argue, I walked back. My bare feet were silent on the hardwood, but I heard his heavier steps right b

 Ava POV I screamed until my throat burned. The sound bounced off the library walls, raw and wild, and then died into a broken sob. Marcus held me tight against his chest, one hand cradling the back of my head. Damien's palm pressed flat between my shoulder blades. Lucas stood close, his fingers wrapped around my wrist like he was afraid I'd shatter if he let go. Maybe I would. "Breathe," Marcus whispered again. "Slow. In and out." I tried. My lungs hitched, stuttered, then finally filled with air. The room came back into focus—the tall shelves, the leather chairs, the window seat where Lucas had touched me so gently just hours ago. It all looked different now. Darker. Like the whole house had shifted while I wasn't looking. I pulled back from Marcus, wiping my face with both hands. "Say it again," I whispered. Marcus's