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Mariane thought she had lost everything the day her mother was found dead by the roadside. Grief consumed her, leaving her with no choice but to accept a loveless marriage to Heinrich Volkov—a powerful, ruthless man with secrets as dark as his cold green eyes.

But just when she begins to accept her fate, the truth unravels.

Her mother’s death wasn’t an accident. The investigation takes a shocking turn, revealing clues that suggest she might still be alive. The deeper Mariane digs, the more the shadows close in around her. And the worst part?

Heinrich might have known all along.

Betrayal cuts deeper than any blade, and as Mariane pieces together the puzzle, she realizes that the man she shares a bed with—the man who watches her every move—is keeping far more than just business secrets.

Was she forced into this marriage to be protected? Or was she trapped to be controlled?

And if her mother is alive…

Why hasn’t she come back for her?

As Mariane’s world spirals into a web of deceit, power, and deadly desire, she’s left with only one choice: trust Heinrich, or destroy him.

But how do you fight the devil when you’re already falling for him?

THE HAUNTED HEART OF LIES

Mariane sat alone on the cold metal bench, its rusted edges biting into her skin through the thin fabric of her dress. The night air had turned frigid, wrapping around me like a cruel reminder of how alone I truly was. The faint hum of traffic in the distance blurred into the background as I buried my face in my knees, the lace hem of my dress already damp with the tears that refused to stop. My shoulders trembled, and each sob that tore from my throat felt like it pulled out a piece of my soul. 


The streetlight above flickered, casting uneven shadows across the cracked pavement. A moth fluttered around the bulb, its wings beating frantically against the glass, much like my heart against the cage of my chest. My thoughts spun in chaos—Richard’s slap, his words, the disdain in his eyes. I could still feel the sting on my cheek, a cruel reminder that I'd been nothing but a pawn. 


CHAPTER 43