Elise’s apartment was her sanctuary—soft creams and golds, textures that soothed her soul. But today, as she sketched designs for Julian’s penthouse, her mind was a storm. The carriage chase had left her shaken, and Julian’s vague explanations about Livia only deepened her unease. She needed space to think, but her body still hummed with the memory of his touch.

A knock at the door startled her. Julian stood there, his usual polish replaced by a raw edge—hair mussed, eyes shadowed. “I should’ve called,” he said, stepping inside, “but I needed to see you.”

Her resolve wavered as he pulled her close, his scent—sandalwood and spice—flooding her senses. “You can’t just show up and expect me to forget last night,” she said, pulling back. “Who’s Livia, Julian? Really.”

He sank onto her couch, running a hand through his hair. “Livia was more than a business partner,” he admitted, his voice heavy. “We were together, briefly, years ago. She’s brilliant, ruthless, and she never forgave me for ending it. Now she’s using the past—my mistakes—to hurt me. To hurt us.”

Elise’s stomach twisted. “Were you in love with her?”

“No,” he said firmly, meeting her eyes. “It was never like this. Never like you.”

His words softened her, but doubt lingered. Before she could respond, he stood, closing the distance between them. “Let me show you what you mean to me,” he murmured, his lips brushing hers. The kiss deepened, urgent, and soon they were on her bed, clothes shed in a frenzy. His hands mapped her body, reverent yet desperate, as if proving his truth through touch. She arched beneath him, their rhythm a dance of need and forgiveness, her moans filling the room.

After, as they lay tangled in her sheets, her phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number: He’s lying about the deal. Check his company’s old records. Elise’s heart sank. She hid the phone, but Julian’s eyes were on her, searching.

“Everything okay?” he asked, his voice gentle but wary.

She nodded, forcing a smile. “Just work.” But as he kissed her forehead, she wondered: was he hiding more? And could she trust her heart over the whispers of doubt?

Chapter 5: Tangled Bonds and Hidden Truths

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