The next morning, Elizabeth awoke with a mixture of warmth and trepidation. The previous night felt like a dream, her mind replaying the soft intimacy of Xavier's touch, the vulnerability in his voice. She'd let herself hope for something real, something beyond the boundaries of their arrangement. But now, as the morning light filtered through the curtains, reality seeped in alongside her doubts.
What if last night had been just a moment of weakness for Xavier? A fleeting distraction from the pressures of the family and the constant battles with Thomas? And then there was Thomas himself—a persistent reminder of the shadows lingering in Xavier's world.
As she rose and dressed, her mind was filled with these questions. The estate was quiet when she stepped into the hallway, and she felt the strange sensation of both belonging and not belonging. Her steps took her toward the gardens—she needed fresh air and a chance to clear her head.
But as she rounded the corner leading to the terrace, she nearly collided with Thomas, who appeared to be waiting for her. His eyes glinted with that all-too-familiar combination of curiosity and malice.
"Good morning, Elizabeth," he greeted, his voice smooth but unsettling. "You're up early. Trouble sleeping?"
Elizabeth squared her shoulders, unwilling to let him sense her unease. "No trouble, just enjoying the gardens. They're beautiful in the morning."
He studied her, an amused glint in his eyes. "I suppose the estate must seem like quite a fairytale to you—living in luxury, being married to the great Xavier Cole." His tone was mocking, a slight sneer forming at the corners of his mouth.
"It's not quite a fairytale," she replied evenly, not letting him get under her skin. "But I'm learning to appreciate its… unique charms."
"Unique indeed," Thomas said, chuckling darkly. "But fairytales often hide their true nature. There's always a dark twist, something lurking just beneath the surface."
Elizabeth held his gaze, resisting the urge to look away. "What are you trying to say, Thomas?"
He leaned in, his voice lowering conspiratorially. "Has Xavier told you everything, Elizabeth? About our family? About the real reason he brought you here?"
She stiffened, her pulse quickening. "Xavier and I have an arrangement, Thomas. Whatever you're hinting at, it's none of your business."
"But that's where you're wrong," he countered, a cruel smile spreading across his face. "Xavier made it my business the moment he brought you into our lives. Did you really think he married you out of some noble sense of duty or affection? He needed something from you, Elizabeth. He needs something from all of us."
The words struck a chord, stirring up a mix of confusion and doubt. "And what exactly is it that you think he needs from me?"
Thomas's eyes gleamed with a twisted satisfaction. "Protection. Legitimacy. Do you really think he could hold this company, this family, on his own? You're just one more piece on his chessboard."
Elizabeth's heart pounded as she processed his words. Could it be true? She knew Xavier had entered their marriage out of practicality, but… hadn't she felt something real in his touch, in his words? Was it all just a calculated move on his part?
"Why should I believe anything you say, Thomas?" she demanded, masking her uncertainty with anger.
He smirked, as if pleased by her reaction. "Believe me or don't, Elizabeth. But one day, when Xavier's mask slips, you'll see it for yourself." He took a step back, giving her one last calculating look. "Enjoy your morning."
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving her standing on the terrace, a storm of doubt swirling in her chest.
Elizabeth spent the rest of the day trying to shake off Thomas's words, but they clung to her, echoing in her mind. That evening, she found herself in Xavier's study once again. He looked up as she entered, his face softening at the sight of her.
"Hey," he said, setting down his phone and giving her his full attention. "Is everything all right?"
She hesitated, feeling the weight of her suspicions pressing down on her. "I ran into Thomas this morning."
Xavier's expression darkened instantly. "Did he say something to you?"
"He… implied that you weren't being honest with me. That there's something you need from me, something that goes beyond our arrangement." She tried to keep her tone steady, but she could hear the tremor in her voice.
Xavier let out a long sigh, rubbing a hand over his face. "I'm sorry, Elizabeth. I should have warned you. Thomas has always had a way of twisting the truth to suit his agenda."
"So, it's not true?" she asked, searching his gaze, hoping for reassurance.
Xavier met her eyes, his expression unreadable for a moment. "I brought you into this arrangement because I needed someone I could trust by my side, someone who wouldn't try to undermine me like Thomas has. Yes, part of it was for appearances, for stability. But it's not a game to me, Elizabeth. You're not a pawn."
"And what about your company?" she pressed. "Thomas said something about protection. He made it sound like I'm just here to help you hold onto power."
He clenched his jaw, his frustration evident. "He's twisting things again. Yes, there are expectations within the family—having a stable marriage strengthens my position. It's part of our world, Elizabeth, a world Thomas knows well enough to exploit. But I didn't marry you just for protection or legitimacy. I chose you because you're… more than that."
The intensity in his voice was impossible to ignore, and Elizabeth felt her walls beginning to crumble. "More than what, Xavier?"
"More than anyone else I've known," he replied quietly, his gaze locked on hers. "More than someone to help me win battles or keep appearances. Elizabeth, you bring something to my life that I didn't realize I needed. And I don't want to lose that."
For a moment, the doubts faded, replaced by a warmth that spread through her, filling the spaces left empty by Thomas's cruel words. But part of her still hesitated, wondering if she was allowing herself to be too vulnerable, too trusting.
"I want to believe you," she murmured, her voice barely audible. "But this world of yours… it's complicated. And Thomas knows how to make me question everything."
Xavier reached out, taking her hand in his. "I know. And I'm sorry for that. But if you'll trust me, Elizabeth, I promise I'll protect you from him. From all of it."
They stood there in the quiet, her hand in his, the unspoken tension between them lingering. She wanted to believe him, to let go of her fears and trust in what she'd felt with him. But a part of her couldn't forget Thomas's warning, the way he'd spoken as though he knew a truth she didn't.
"Just… promise me you'll be honest with me," she said finally, her voice a whisper. "I can handle anything, Xavier. But I can't handle being lied to."
Xavier's gaze softened, his thumb brushing gently over her knuckles. "I promise, Elizabeth. Whatever happens, you'll always know the truth."
She nodded, a sense of relief mingling with lingering uncertainty. She could feel his sincerity, the quiet resolve in his words, and for now, it was enough to reassure her.
That night, as Elizabeth lay in bed, she couldn't shake the feeling that Thomas's warning was only the beginning. Her heart ached with the weight of her doubts, even as her mind replayed Xavier's words, his touch, the warmth in his gaze. She wanted to trust him, to believe that there was something real between them. But the shadows of Xavier's world were beginning to feel closer, more dangerous than she'd anticipated.
And deep down, she knew that Thomas wasn't done with his games. He would be back, and the next time, he might reveal something that Xavier wouldn't be able to explain away so easily.
For now, she would wait, watch, and hope that her trust in Xavier wasn't misplaced. But as she drifted into a restless sleep, she couldn't shake the feeling that the truth—whatever it was—was far more complex, and far darker, than she'd been led to believe.