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"My wife, Liana."

I can't help but jerk when my husband suddenly speaks, his every word bearing the full force of his power and authority.

"I will appreciate everyone's support in making her feel at home."

His staff starts clapping. A few evensmile.And although I try my hardest to look for any signs of disapproval, distrust, or deceit—

There's nothing.

Rien du tout.

Absolutely nothing.

In each and every one of his servants, I only see loyalty...to him.

If their master says I am his bride, then so be it.

C'est la vie.

And in this sense, we are completely alike, his servants and I.



















Chapter Four

"AND THIS IS OUR INFORMALlibrary." Erin steps back from the doorway so I can enter if I wish. The room is a bibliophile's fantasy—two stories tall with a spiral staircase connecting the levels, walls lined with leather-bound books in rich jewel tones, and reading nooks tucked into window alcoves that overlook the gardens. If this is informal, I'm clearly not posh enough because I can't even imagine what their version of formal looks like.

We move on to the next stop in her house tour, and I can't help but notice how every hallway we walk through is vast, elegant, and remarkably...impersonal.There are no framed photos, no trophy cabinets, or a shelf of souvenirs on display from previous trips. There's just nothing at all that reveals the character of its owner. It's simply one expensive painting after another, and honestly?

Those paintings are making my fingers itch. What relief it would've given the old me, if I had been able to steal even just one of them for Maman.

(Heh.)

Another thing catches my eye, and it's the sheer number of security cameras we've walked past. Those small black orbs are everywhere, and not just mounted discreetly in every corner. I see them next to every column and above every entry and exit point. There are even a couple so perfectly concealed, only someone who steals for a living would've noticed them.

What is this place, seriously? Big Brother's House, criminal edition?

"Is there a phone I can use?" I ask Erin impulsively.