Maybe he would hate her. But at least she would stop living a lie. She found him in his study standing, actually standing by the window with a cane.
His recovery had accelerated dramatically. He could take steps now, could support his own weight for minutes at a time.
Berlin had done that, had given him that, and now she was about to destroy everything.
Zire, her voice trembled. I need to tell you something. He turned. The evening light caught his profile.
The sharp jaw, the strong brow, the lips she had imagined kissing far too many times.
He looked powerful even with the cane. Commanding the kind of man who controlled rooms just by entering them.
“That sounds serious,” he said. “It is.” Berlin closed the door. “Please, just let me say everything before you respond.”
Zire set aside his cane and lowered himself into a chair. His dark eyes never left her face.
I’m listening. Berlin took a shaky breath. My name isn’t Ivory. It’s Berlin. Berlin Thorne.
The words tumbled out. Ivory is my adoptive sister. The one who was supposed to marry you, but she refused because you were paralyzed.
She didn’t want to be tied to someone she saw as broken. Zire’s expression didn’t change.
The thorns took me in as a baby, an orphan. They never treated me like family.
I was more like a servant, someone to do the work Ivory didn’t want. Berlin felt tears threatening.
When Ivory refused the marriage, Nadine decided I would take her place. She threatened me.
Used the only thing I have for my real parents to control me. The keepsake, Zire said quietly.
Berlin blinked. How did you keep going? She swallowed. It’s a locket with ancient writing I’ve never been able to translate.
I’ve had it since I was a baby. It’s the only connection to whoever my real parents are.
Nadine has been dangling it over me for 23 years, promising to help me find answers if I just do one more thing.
Be good one more time. Tears spilled down her cheeks. She’s threatening to destroy it if I don’t steal money from you.
$100,000 by the end of the month. Berlin laughed bitterly. And I couldn’t do it.
I couldn’t become the gold digger you warned me about. Not after everything we’ve been through.
Not after, she stopped. Not after what? Zire asked softly. Berlin met his eyes. Not after I fell in love with you.
The words hung between them. Zire rose from his chair slowly, deliberately, without the cane.
He walked toward her, each step steady, controlled, powerful. Berlin’s heart pounded. “I know you hate liars,” she whispered.
“I know I’m exactly the kind of person you despised, a fraud, an impostor. I’ll leave tonight.
You’ll never have to see me.” Zire kissed her. It wasn’t gentle, wasn’t hesitant. It was consuming, demanding, a kiss that claimed and conquered and left no room for doubt.
His hands tangled in her hair. Her fingers gripped his shirt. The world disappeared. The study, the mansion, Nadine’s threats, everything.
There was only Zire, only his lips on hers. Only the fire building between them.
