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The words tumble out of me as I go on to tell her about the video call, Roman answering instead of Luca, the things he said about Luca cheating, about taking him out of the city, and worst of all… his declaration that he’s marrying me tonight instead of her.

Audrey’s eyes widen in shock. “What? How does Roman even know about you and Luca?”

“That’s the same question I’ve been asking myself,” I whisper. “Did you tell anyone?”

“Of course not!” she says immediately. “I know better than that. I haven’t breathed a word about your relationship to anyone.”

“Then how did he find out?” My voice cracks. “And why does he suddenly want to marry me instead of you?”

Audrey shakes her head, looking as bewildered as I feel. “This makes no sense. There’s no way he can just go back on the alliance like that. The announcement has already been made. He’s supposed to be getting engaged to me. He can’t just switch brides out of the blue. You don’t need to worry, Aurora. Calm down. He can’t do that.”

“I’m so sorry,” I say, my cheeks burning with fresh embarrassment. “I didn’t mean to show him… my tits. I thought I was calling Luca. I never meant for him to see me like that.”

Audrey pulls me into a hug. “You don’t need to apologize. It’s not your fault. You called Luca. The real question is, why does Roman have Luca’s phone? Why did he even answer?”

I nod, still trembling. “Exactly. What if he tells Father about Luca and me? What is his endgame?”

“I have no idea,” Audrey admits. “Have you tried calling Luca again?”

“I did. I’m blocked now.”

“Wow…” She exhales sharply. “What are we going to do?”

“Do you have Roman’s number by any chance?” I ask hopefully.

Audrey looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. “Of course not. I’ve barely exchanged a full sentence with the man. I’m just supposed to marry him. I don’t know him like that.”

I swear under my breath and start pacing her bedroom floor again, panic rising fresh in my chest. Audrey tries to calm me, saying that when Roman arrives this evening we’ll confront him together and figure out what he’s really after.

Just then, a knock sounds on the door.

A maid steps inside, looking flustered. “Miss Audrey, Miss Aurora, Roman has arrived. Your father has summoned you both downstairs to meet him immediately.”

My blood runs cold. He wasn’t supposed to be here this early. He wasn’t expected for at least another few hours.

Chapter 3

Roman

I stare at the unfortunate fool sitting across from me in the back of my car.

Luca’s face is covered in blood, one eye swollen shut, his split lip trembling as he struggles to hold back another pathetic whimper.

Every few seconds, he mutters another apology, another plea for mercy, as though begging will somehow change his fate.

I should kill him. One pull of the trigger would end this.

Or better yet, I could wrap my hands around his throat and slowly squeeze until I watch the life leave his eyes.

I’ve always preferred that method. It’s far more personal, and there’s something deeply satisfying about watching a man struggle for his final breath, seeing the fight slowly leave his eyes.

I look away from him and resume scrolling through his phone, opening the chat with Aurora. I go through every conversation he’s ever had with her. Every text. Every photograph. Every attachment.

My jaw remains tight while I search for something that will justify putting a bullet in his head.

There isn’t anything. No nude photographs. No videos. No explicit messages.

Nothing beyond the innocent conversations of two young lovers.