Eva isn't in bed when I wake, so I search for her. My heart pounds harder when I don't find her in the kitchen or the little library. The light in the glasshouse is on, where I keep my laptop and journal."Eva," I say her name as I walk in."What is this?" Eva asks, signaling to my laptop open on the photoshopped image of her kissing the janitor.I must have left my laptop on without locking it. Either that or she guessed my password. The look in her eyes is one of pure anguish, and it makes my chest ache. "You were the one who sent the photograph to my parents." She shakes her head. "Y-you." Her voice breaks, and a stray tear escapes her eyes, trickling down her cheek. She nods at the open diary on the table too. "I know everything.""Eva, listen." I move toward her, but she takes a step back."No," she barks, louder than I've ever heard her speak. "Don't come near me. Natalya warned me someone wanted me here." She clenches her fists by her side. "She said that someone doctored the i
Eva gasps, eyes widening. "You want to murder my parents?"I stand, feeling fresh panic coil through me. "Eva, you must understand that they crushed my dreams and killed the only woman I had ever loved, all because I didn't want to work for them." I pace the floor of the room. "It only felt right that I take everything from them." I sigh heavily. "Until I met you.""And you would have been able to murder them?" Eva asks as if trying to work out whether I'm capable of such violence."Eva, we have more in common than you'd ever know." I meet her gaze. "I told you of my Italian roots. My birth name was Luca Moretti, and I came from Naples." My heart is pounding so hard and fast as I've told no one about my true origins, not even my two closest friends. After all, my family will never give up their search for me. "I was their first-born son, set to inherit and rule a criminal empire, but I never wanted that life." I pace the floor, not looking at Eva as I tell her my deepest, darkest secr
I pace the floor of Oak's cottage, waiting for him to get off the phone with his contact.Although our new arrangement means that the blackmailer has nothing, not once we announce that we're married. Oak intends for me to move in with him at the cottage for the rest of the year, as we will be husband and wife.The priest has already been called to wed us before school starts again. If we are going to pull the wool over my parents' eyes, we have to act fast. They haven't even contacted me over the Christmas period, which isn't surprising. Half the time, they seem to forget I exist, even though they believe I'm important for the future of their clan.Oak's betrayal hurt me more than I can explain. I'm still angry at him about what he did to me and his intention to use me as collateral in his quest for vengeance. It all made sense, though, once he explained everything. My parents tore apart his world, so I guess it's only natural to want to make them pay.He appears from the study, a gra
I twirl my fingers through my hair, gazing at my reflection in the mirror, struggling to believe I'm going to walk down the aisle today and marry the principal of my school.Professor Daniels will attend the ceremony, which seems a little weird, but apparently, he's Oak's closest friend.It's insane. I can't even imagine what Natalya, Azira, and Adrianna will say when I tell them the news at the start of next semester.A woman clears her throat behind me, forcing me to turn. "Are you ready?" she asks. I think she's the florist as she's clutching a bouquet of white roses.I nod in reply, and she enters the small changing room next to the school chapel. "These are for you."I smile. "Thank you."She nods, and then her brow furrows. "Where are your parents?"I narrow my eyes at her. "They couldn't make it," I lie."I'm sorry to hear that." She turns to leave. "Good luck."I don't reply, glancing at myself again in the mirror. Marriage isn't something I ever thought about, and now I'm get
I stare down the barrel of Jamie Carmichaels' gun, knowing I can't let him win this time, not when I have so much more to lose. Eva means more to me than anything I've ever possessed."Put the gun down, Jamie." I cross my arms over my chest and glare at him. "If you kill me, you might as well kiss goodbye to the clan for good."Eva inches closer to my back, fisting my shirt."Hand over my daughter, and then I'll leave." He signals at Eva, who cowers behind me. "Eva, stop this at once and come here," he barks."I'm afraid you are too late, Jamie. Eva is already my lawfully wedded wife, and therefore she's no longer your concern as of about half an hour ago.""I won't stand for it." Jamie snarls, cocking the gun. "Eva is our heir, and she will marry a suitable husband who can rule our empire."Eva steps out from behind my back with her chin held high. "I'll never do that because Oak is my husband, and as I've told you since the day that Karl died, I have no intention of having anything
"Angela, put down your gun, and I will put down this one." I signal to the gun."Mom, do as he says," Eva pushes, which only seems to enrage her mother."You worthless little brat." She slaps Eva across the face with her free hand, setting my blood on fire."Don't touch my wife," I growl, glaring at her. "Do you want me to shoot your husband?"Eva backs away from her mother, hatred sparking in her eyes. "You are a pathetic excuse for a mother," she murmurs.Angela glares at her. "You are the worst daughter I could have asked for." She points her finger at her. "I wish you had died in place of your brother."Eva's face twists in anguish. She may hate her parents, but they can still hurt her, still twist the knife in her gut. Tears form in her eyes."Angela, I said put the gun down," I repeat, keeping my voice calm. "Let's talk about this like grown adults.""Grown adults!" she shrieks, clearly hysterical. "You are thirty-two years old, and you just married an eighteen-year-old." Her ey
My heart pounds so hard I can hardly hear the students on the other side of the curtain.Oak intends to announce our marriage to the entire school during the welcome back meeting in the hall today in exactly five minutes.He told me I didn't have to be here, but it didn't feel right to leave him to tell everyone alone. Natalya, Azira, and Adrianna all arrived back here yesterday at my request to break the news to them personally.I rendered all three speechless at first, but once they finally started talking, I explained all the crazy, sordid things that happened over winter break. They were happy for me once they got over the shock.Oak has also told all the staff, who, other than Blaine and, of course, Archer, was very shocked. A few protested against it, saying it was immoral. However, Oak argued the entire school construct was immoral, so he doesn't feel their argument stood up.I'm prepared for the funny looks and the jokes at my expense once it becomes public knowledge, but I do
I swallow hard as my cheeks heat, turning around to find quite a few students gawking at me. I rush to Natalya's side."I can't believe you are married to that God of a man," she says, shaking her head.I tilt my head. "Are you saying he's out of my league?""No, God no. You are gorgeous, but he's our fucking principal."Azira laughs. "Perhaps I'll try to bag Luigi."All of us look at her like she's insane."What? He's hot.""Yeah, and fucking crazy," Adrianna says, rolling her eyes. "No one would voluntarily get with that man. He's a sadist."Azira's cheeks redden, but she shrugs. "Doesn't take away from how gorgeous he is, and now I know it's possible..." she laughs. "I'm joking, though.""Right," Natalya says. "It's your funeral."I shake my head. "We'd best get to breakfast before everyone eats all the good food."Natalya hooks her arm with mine. "I can see now why you were so eager to spend winter break here, alone," she stresses the last word, and I can't help but smile."Yeah,