The Golden Lie

Vivienne’s POV

Dinner didn’t continue quietly.

It couldn’t have, not after the words that left Ruslan’s mouth like a bomb detonating in the center of the table.

“A contract?” he said, voice tight and loud enough to make forks pause mid-air and wine glasses shiver faintly on the table. “You’re telling me your marriage, this…was arranged?”

My throat was dry, lips parted, but no words came. Not even