Lara's POV
"I was only doing my part as your fake wife," I said, my words clipped and defensive. "And you know that. I did not want you complaining. After all, you compensated me well enough." I did not mean to say it out loud.
The words slipped past my lips before I could stop them, born from a foolish, fragile hope that maybe this time Marco would say something different. Something softer. Something that would ease the tight ache spreading through my chest.
But instead, he reminded me of my place. Reminded me of my role and duty as his fake wife.
Each word felt like it landed deliberately, as if he wanted to make sure I remembered exactly where I stood in his life. And when he spoke of being my husband and my boss, when he told me I needed to perform well and satisfy him, something inside me cracked.
