PERFECT LIE

The Rules

The fear in Ava’s chest lasted only a moment.

Then she saw his eyes. Not anger, not cruelty.

Something far more dangerous: pain.

Ethan Blackwood stood at the end of the dark hallway, his broad shoulders tense beneath his black shirt.

The man who had kissed her with such tenderness minutes ago was gone. In his place stood the man the world feared.“Go back to your room, Ava,” he said quietly. Her fingers remained on the cold metal of the locked door. Tell me what’s inside.”

His jaw tightened. " No.”

“No?” You heard me.”Ava turned to face him fully.

“You bring me into your mansion. You tell me people are trying to kill me. You say you chose me for reasons you won’t explain, and now you expect me not to ask questions?”His eyes held hers.

For several long seconds, neither moved.

The air between them was heavy. Dangerous.

Intimate.“You don’t know what you’re asking.”

“Then make me understand.”A flicker of emotion crossed his face. Regret and Fear. A feeling she never imagined seeing in Ethan Blackwood.

“I can’t.”

“Or you won’t?”His expression darkened.Both.”

The answer sent a strange ache through her.

Because she knew he wasn’t refusing to control her. He was protecting something or someone.

And somehow, that scared her even more.

Ethan took a slow breath. “Come with me.”

She hesitated. Is that another order?”His lips curved slightly. A request.”For some reason, that small difference mattered. Ava followed him.

They walked through the silent mansion until they entered a private study lined with shelves of old books and a fireplace glowing softly against the walls.

The room felt like Ethan. Elegant, Powerful, and lonely. He walked behind his desk and opened a leather folder. The same kind of folder he had placed before her in the café. The contract.

Ava’s stomach tightened. Seriously?“Very.”

“After everything tonight, you still care about paperwork?”His gaze softened.

“After everything tonight, I care about keeping you alive.”The sincerity in his voice made her look away. She hated that she believed him; she hated even more that she wanted to. Ethan slid the

contract toward her. There are rules.”

“There always are.”

“Yes.”

“Let me guess. Smile at the cameras. Hold your hand at charity events. Pretend I’m madly in love with you.” A shadow of amusement crossed his face. You missed a few.”Her heart betrayed her by beating faster. Such as?”He stepped closer.

Not enough to touch her. Just enough that she could feel his presence.

“Rule one.”His voice dropped. In public, you never leave my side.”Ava swallowed. Because of your enemies?”A dark look crossed his face. Because I don’t know who I can trust.” That answer disturbed her. Rule two,” he continued. “You never go anywhere alone. Not the city. Not the grounds. Not even the gardens.”

“That’s ridiculous. “It’s necessary.”

“I’m not a prisoner.”His eyes flashed. No.”The answer came instantly. Too instantly. You are my responsibility.”The words should have annoyed her. Instead, they sent warmth through her chest.

She looked away. She didn’t want him to see the effect he had on her.

Unfortunately, Ethan noticed everything. Are you blushing?” “No.” “You are.”

“I’m angry.”A small smile appeared. That doesn’t explain why you’re blushing.”She stepped closer.

Dangerously close. Maybe I’m angry that you think you know me.”The smile disappeared. The atmosphere changed. Again.

It always changed when they were close. As the rest of the world disappeared.“Then tell me what I don’t know,” he whispered. Her breath caught.

The distance between them vanished. She could feel the warmth of him, the steady rhythm of his breathing. She remembered the kiss. The way he had held her as though she mattered.

A mistake. A dangerous mistake.“Rule three,” Ethan said, his voice lower now. What?”

His eyes fell to her lips before returning to her eyes. In private, you can hate me all you want.”

Her heartbeat stumbled. But?”A faint smile appeared. But in front of everyone else, you are mine.”

The words should have made her walk away.

Instead, her body refused to move because beneath the confidence, she heard something else. Fear. Like he needed the world to believe they belonged together. Like their lie was the only thing keeping them alive.

“And what about you?” she whispered. What about me?”

“Do you have rules?”For the first time, he seemed caught off guard.No one has ever asked me that.”

“Then I’m the first.”A long silence passed. Then Ethan said quietly, “I don’t lie to you.”She almost laughed. That’s funny coming from a man with an entire forbidden wing in his house.”His expression hardened. Besides that.”She shook her head.

“That’s not how honesty works.”

Before he could answer, a loud knock interrupted them. Both immediately stepped apart. The spell was broken. Enter,” Ethan called. Clara walked in carrying a tray with tea. Sir, Miss Morgan.”She placed the cups down. Breakfast will be served at eight, and the stylists will arrive tomorrow morning.”Ava frowned. Stylists?”

Ethan looked completely serious. The media will photograph us within forty-eight hours.”

“You already planned everything.”

“Of course.”She shook her head. You’re impossible.” “And yet, you’re still here.”She had no response because he was right. That was what frightened her. She should have left. She should have hated him.

Instead, she found herself watching the way he loosened his tie after a long night. The tiredness he tried to hide, the loneliness behind his cold exterior, the man beneath the billionaire.

Later that night, unable to sleep, Ava left her room.

The mansion was silent. She walked downstairs toward the kitchen, hoping a glass of water would calm her thoughts. But as she reached the hallway near the servants’ quarters, she heard voices.

She stopped. Two staff members were whispering.

“You shouldn’t talk about her,” one woman said nervously.

“I know,” the man replied. “But it’s been years.”

Ava’s heart slowed. Her instincts screamed at her to walk away. She stayed.“Do you think Miss Morgan knows?” the woman whispered.

“Of course not. Mr. Blackwood would never tell her.”Tell her what? Ava moved closer. Her hand pressed against the wall.

“The last girl looked so much like her.”Ava froze.

Her blood turned cold. The woman gasped.

“Don’t say that.”

“It’s true. Same eyes. Same hair. That’s why he brought her here.”Ava couldn’t breathe. No.

No, that couldn’t be true.

“Do you think she’ll disappear too?” the man whispered. Silence.

A terrible, terrifying silence. Then the woman finally answered. Don’t even say her name.”

Ava’s pulse thundered.“Whose name?” the man asked. The woman looked around as though afraid the walls themselves could hear her. The woman who vanished from the east wing.”Ava’s eyes widened. The east wing.The locked door.

The place Ethan refused to discuss. The woman’s voice dropped into a frightened whisper. The woman Ethan Blackwood loved.”Ava covered her mouth to stop herself from gasping. Suddenly, every memory rushed back. The locked wing. The pain in Ethan’s eyes. His refusal to explain.

His words: You don’t know what you’re asking.

Now she did.

Or at least she thought she did.

And she had a terrifying new question.

Was Ethan protecting her—

or hiding what happened to the woman who came before her.