Chapter 23
Azalea says still, watching the birds flying outside as the first rays of sunlight filtered through the curtains. Her body was stiff from the strange way she had woken up in Federico's arms. It was a shock, to say the least. She could still feel the weight of his hands from when he had pulled her closer, even though, as soon as he’d woken, he had thrown her off like she was nothing.
The coldness in his eyes, the disdain in his voice when he reminded her that they were married under a contract and nothing more—it stung. She had felt humiliated, but she knew better than to show it. There was no point. This marriage wasn’t based on love or affection. It was purely transactional, and that reminder was clear in every interaction they had.
The sudden knock at the door had pulled he
