Chapter 1
“She called him her husband.”
Emma pointed at Miles.
The music room went completely still.
Camille’s face lost every trace of arrogance.
Miles stopped reaching toward her.
I looked at his left hand.
The wedding band had always been there.
Plain platinum.
Worn smooth along the lower edge.
I had seen it thousands of times.
I simply had never asked the correct question.
“Miles.”
His jaw tightened.
“Boss.”
“Who is your wife?”
Camille snapped:
“Adrian, Emma is hurt. This can wait.”
I looked at her.
“You crushed my daughter’s fingers to stop her repeating what she heard.”
Her mouth closed.
I turned back to Miles.
“Who is your wife?”
He looked at Emma.
Then at Camille.
Finally at me.
“Camille.”
One word.
My engagement ended before the echo left the room.
I wrapped my jacket more tightly around Emma and handed her to one of the guards I trusted.
“Stay where I can see her.”
Emma clung to my sleeve.
“Daddy.”
“I’m right here.”
Her injured fingers were reddened but moving. A doctor was already being called to the estate.
I faced Miles again.
“How long?”
“Eight years.”
Camille closed her eyes.
Eight.
I had known her eighteen months.
Miles had protected my life for five years.
“You were married before he entered my household.”
“Yes.”
I almost laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because betrayal this complete becomes absurd before it becomes painful.
“You introduced us.”
Miles shook his head.
“No.”
Camille immediately said:
“He’s lying.”
Interesting.
I looked between them.
“Good.”
Both frowned.
“One of you lies first, the other gets to correct it.”
Neither spoke.
Then Emma whispered behind me:
“She said after the wedding, Daddy won’t need to know.”
My eyes returned to my daughter.
“What wouldn’t I need to know?”
Emma looked frightened.
Camille moved.
Only half a step.
Every bodyguard in the room reacted.
Emma pressed closer to the guard holding her.
Then she whispered:
May you like
“Where they send me.”
The secret marriage was suddenly no longer the worst thing in the room.
