Ariel puts her hand on Darian’s chest, interrupting their kiss. Their eyes both burned with lust, and the whole room smelled of heat. Ariel was currently pinned to the wall with her left leg lifted by Darian and her waist wrapped in his arm. Their breathing, mixed with cool, refreshing wine that they had earlier, fanned against each other's faces. “I…I don't think we should do this, Darian. It's dangerous.” She whispered, but Darian wasn't listening. Instead, he went for her neck and licked it, teasing her slightly and turning them on further. “Why? We have done it before. Why should we stop?” Darian's voice was so alluring and tempting. Ariel rolled her eyes backwards in pleasure, trying her best to remain fully sane with what she was trying to say because Darian just wouldn't stop touching. “No…that first one was a mistake…this…this shouldn't go on…I don't think Luna would be happy to know this.” She replied, and Darian paused, finally. She was able to catch her breath. He looked into her eyes while trailing his fingers across her chin. “We can make an exception to it.” That was his response before he captured her luscious lips again, and Ariel didn't bother fighting back. She loved the thrill of it even though if they were caught right now, she could get beheaded.

She had loved him quietly and foolishly since college. When she finally got her chance with him, she believed she’d won the greatest prize of all: the man who had once been out of reach. But marriage to Evander Cole isn’t what she imagined. To the world, she isn’t even his wife. She is just the woman who lives in his shadow. And when his ex-fiancée returns, the fragile warmth between them freezes overnight. Every smile he once gave her now belongs to another—even the promise he made shatters in silence. Tired of waiting for love that never comes, Seraphine files for divorce. But Evander refuses. He doesn’t understand why she wants to leave. He doesn’t even realize he’s the one breaking her heart. As secrets from the past get revealed, which are the truth behind his ex’s family, his own mother’s death, and the lies binding their marriage, Seraphine learns that some wounds run deeper than love. And when Evander discovers she was carrying his child all along, the child he lost because of his own neglect, it’s too late to undo the damage. Now, he’ll do anything to win her back. But she’s no longer the same woman who once begged for his love.