The penthouse had become a maze of silence.
We walked past each other like shadows. Shared rooms but not space. Shared a name but not a life.
For the next two weeks, I perfected the art of fake smiles and stiff hand-holding. Every gala, luncheon, or PR event became another performance in our tangled lie.
And Riven Hale? He was an enigma wrapped in ice.
Until one night, everything cracked.
I was in the study, curled on the couch with a blanket and an old romance novel. Riven had just returned from some late meeting, loosening his tie as he passed the door.
"Long day?" I asked without looking up.
He paused. "Every day's long when you have to clean up someone else's mess."
I closed my book slowly. "Ryker again?"
He stilled.
Something sharp flickered across his face. "You're still thinking about him."
I sat up. "Of course I am. He was supposed to be my husband."
"Do you regret that he left?" he asked, voice flat.
I hesitated. "I don't know. I regret being lied to. Being left behind without answers."
He leaned against the doorway, eyes unreadable. "You were in love with him."
I flinched.
"I thought I was," I admitted. "But maybe… I was in love with the idea of him. With who he pretended to be."
That seemed to surprise him.
"I don't even know what was real anymore," I whispered. "Was he using me? Did he ever care?"
Riven didn't speak.
I stood up. "You said he ran away. But no one has seen or heard from him in weeks. That's not just cold feet. That's missing."
His expression darkened. "Let it go."
"No," I said firmly. "You know more than you're telling me. What aren't you saying?"
His fists clenched. "Because the truth would hurt you."
"I'm already hurt."
He stepped closer, his voice low and fierce. "He didn't just run away, Elara. He ran from something. From someone."
I stared at him. "From who?"
"From the people who own parts of our company," he said. "Powerful people. Dangerous ones. The kind who don't like loose ends."
My blood went cold. "You're saying he was in trouble?"
"I'm saying… he dragged us into trouble. And I'm the one cleaning up after him."
I stumbled back a step, overwhelmed. "Why didn't you tell me this before?"
"Because you looked at him like he was your future," Riven said bitterly. "And I didn't want to be the one to destroy that."
Silence stretched between us.
I crossed my arms, grounding myself. "So why marry me? If Ryker's the one who made the mess, why tie yourself to me?"
His jaw clenched. "Because the board knew your name. The media had your photos. The story was already spinning."
"And I was convenient," I said flatly.
"No," he said. "You were necessary."
There was something in his tone—something raw, unguarded—that made my heart pound harder.
"I never asked for this," I whispered. "I never asked to be dragged into your family's lies."
"I didn't either," he said softly.
Another pause.
"I dreamt of a quiet life," I admitted. "A bakery maybe. A dog. Nothing like this."
He smiled faintly. "You'd be good at that."
"You don't know me," I said, narrowing my eyes.
"I'm starting to."
And suddenly, that terrified me more than anything.
Because the more I got to know him, the less I hated him.
Even now—standing here in a storm of truth and lies—his presence felt grounding.
Dangerous.
"Riven," I said carefully, "if Ryker's in danger… don't I deserve to know the whole story?"
He hesitated, then stepped forward.
"You deserve the truth," he said quietly. "But once you hear it, you can't go back."
"I don't want to go back," I replied. "I want to know what I married into."
He stared at me—really stared. As if weighing my soul.
Then he said the last name I expected to hear.
"Silas Thorne."
I blinked. "Who?"
"Ryker's secret partner. The man behind the side deals, the stolen funds, the dirty promises."
I felt the floor tilt. "Why does that name sound familiar?"
"Because he used to run with my father before the company went legit. He's old money. Old power. And Ryker owed him."
"Owed him what?"
"Everything," Riven said. "Money. Silence. Loyalty. When Ryker disappeared, Silas turned to me. Told me if I didn't fix it, he'd tear Hale & Thorne apart."
I covered my mouth, trying to breathe. "So that's why you married me. To protect the company from Silas."
"And maybe," he added softly, "to protect you."
The air buzzed between us.
I looked at him—really looked. This man who wore control like armor, who hid hurt behind every sharp word.
"I don't know who to trust anymore," I whispered.
"Then trust what you see," he said, stepping closer. "Not what you remember."
I didn't reply.
Because deep down… I was starting to believe him.