Inside the car, the atmosphere was thick with tension. Della could feel her own pulse quickening as she tried to calm the storm of thoughts swirling in her mind. Hunter was seated beside her, his focus on his phone as he engaged in a business call, his voice low and measured. He was discussing some deal with a partner, his tone confident, professional-so different from the way he had whispered to her on the dance floor earlier that night. She cast a quick glance in his direction, watching the way his jaw tightened as he spoke, the way his fingers gripped the phone with a controlled intensity. There was something about his presence that was both comforting and unnervingly commanding.
Della turned her attention back to the window, needing the distraction. The road ahead was a narrow ribbon of asphalt that seemed to twist endlessly along the rugged cliffs, illuminated only by the moon and the car's headlights. Her thoughts returned to Mrs. Adley's words, echoing in her mind like a refrain she couldn't escape.
*"We should be having a grandchild soon."*
Della shivered, the words sending a chill through her despite the warmth of the car. The thought of it made her heart race-*a grandchild*-it all felt so sudden, so overwhelming. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to quell the rising panic. Her eyes dropped to her lap, where her fingers twisted nervously in the fabric of her dress. She had only agreed to this arrangement to secure her future, to escape her father's fate, to protect Diego, but she hadn't fully grasped what that meant until tonight. The honeymoon loomed before her like a shadow, full of expectations she wasn't ready to face.
She thought of the set of lingerie Mrs. Adley had given her earlier, those delicate, intimate pieces that now felt like chains binding her to this reality. The sight of them had sent a jolt of fear through her. The idea of wearing them, of presenting herself like that to Hunter-it was terrifying. A shiver ran down her spine, and she bit her lip, feeling the anxious flutter of her heartbeat growing louder in her ears. She had never been this close to a man, had never shared such intimacy. In fact, she had never even kissed anyone except Hunter with true passion, let alone anything more. She was still a virgin.
The word hung in her mind like a dark cloud, heavy and full of dread. *What if Hunter found out?* What would he think? She knew that their marriage was supposed to be built on the pretense of love, of devotion, but she couldn't shake the fear that her inexperience would be glaringly obvious. If Hunter discovered her secret, if he knew she had never been with anyone before, she was certain it would cause problems. Maybe he would be angry. Maybe he would feel deceived. Then he would realize she isn't the heir. Della's hands clenched in her lap as she imagined the worst-case scenarios, her breath quickening.
*I have to avoid him at all costs,* she thought, her heart hardening. *I can't let him know. I can't let him get too close.*
But even as she tried to convince herself of this plan, she felt her heart waver. She recalled the moment earlier that day, at the beach. The memory resurfaced, vivid and electric. Her feet sinking into the soft sand as the cool waves lapped against her ankles. she had felt a thrill she couldn't quite explain. When he had reached out to touch her, his fingers had trailing lightly, sending shivers through her body.
She had felt the air shift, the tension between them becoming something almost tangible, like the charged silence before a storm. When his hand had moved higher, brushing against the necklace she wore, her breath caughting in her throat. She had felt as if she were standing at the edge of a cliff, teetering between the desire to leap and the fear of falling. His touch had been gentle but deliberate, and for a brief, dizzying moment, she had imagined what it would feel like if he pulled her closer, if his lips pressed against hers. The thought alone made her heart race, and she remembered the way her entire body had reacted-how her skin burned where his fingers had grazed, how her pulse quickened to a frenzied pace. It was unlike anything she had ever experienced.
*Why am I feeling this way?* she wondered, her hands clenching into fists. She didn't want to feel this pull toward him, this strange attraction that made her both excited and terrified at the same time. She had told herself that she could play her role, that she could get through this arrangement without any real attachment. But the way he made her feel-the way his touch lingered on her skin and the way his eyes seemed to see right through her.
Her mind spun with conflicting thoughts. She was supposed to be in control, to keep her distance, but every time Hunter was near, she felt the walls she had built start to crumble. She pressed her hand to her chest, feeling the rapid thud of her heartbeat. Mrs. Adley's words replayed again in her head, and the pressure of her expectations felt like a vise tightening around her. She knew what was expected of her-what she was supposed to do-but the fear of it all was overwhelming. She wasn't ready for this, wasn't ready to cross that line, and the thought of sharing that part of herself with Hunter-of being so vulnerable-was terrifying.
What if she couldn't pretend anymore? What if her inexperience became obvious? And worse, what if she found herself wanting it-wanting *him*-despite everything?
The car hit a small bump, jolting her from her thoughts. She glanced over at Hunter, who was still engaged in his conversation, seemingly oblivious to the turmoil raging inside her. His face was calm, focused-so different from the whirlwind of emotions she felt. She wondered if he felt anything at all.
*I can't let him see how scared I am,* she told herself. *I have to stay strong. I have to keep my distance.*
But even as she repeated those words, she knew deep down that it would be harder than she had ever imagined.