Chapter 3 - The Mask of Devotion
I returned to our shared penthouse overlooking the bay at 5:30 in the morning.
The apartment smelled of expensive wood polish, fresh eucalyptus, and Tristan’s lingering sandalwood cologne.
I slipped off my shoes, walked into the primary suite, and found Tristan sleeping peacefully on the king-sized bed, his arm draped across my empty pillow.
On the nightstand rested his phone, face up, charging beside a small crystal vase of white orchids he had ordered for my birthday last week.
I stood over him for three full minutes, watching the steady rise and fall of his chest.
How easy it was for a monster to look gentle when his eyes were closed. How terrifying that I had trusted this man with my body, my mind, and my life's work for nearly a decade.
I reached out, picked up my diamond engagement ring from my pocket, and slid it back onto my left finger. The platinum felt like an iron shackle against my skin.
Tristan stirred, blinking against the gray morning light filtering through the sheer drapes.
"Zoe?" he rasped, his voice thick with sleep as he reached out to pull me toward him. "Where were you? I woke up at three and the bed was cold."
I forced a soft, tender smile onto my lips, leaning down to let him kiss my cheek. The faint smell of floral perfume on his skin made my stomach heave, but I didn't flinch.
"I had an inspiration for the cellular stabilization protocol," I lied smoothly, stroking his hair with practiced affection. "I couldn't sleep, so I took an Uber to the lab to run a baseline simulation."
Tristan sat up against the tufted headboard, his eyes narrowing for a fraction of a second before his charming CEO persona took over.
"At five in the morning? Sweetheart, you're working yourself into the ground. Our wedding is in four weeks. You should be tasting cakes and resting, not staring at centrifuges."
"I know," I sighed, resting my head against his shoulder. "I just want everything to be perfect before we take our month-long honeymoon in Amalfi."
Tristan kissed my hair, his hand patting my back in a gesture that felt patronizingly dismissing. "Don't worry about the company, Zoe. Once we're married, you won't have to carry the operational burden anymore. I’m going to take care of everything."
I know you are, I thought, feeling the cold diamond press against his linen shirt. And that’s why you’re going to lose everything.
"By the way," Tristan added casually, reaching for his watch on the nightstand. "Tessa mentioned that the synthesis server was running slow yesterday. I gave her our temporary administrative override so she could back up the raw clinical data while you were resting."
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My heart hammered against my ribs like a trapped bird, but my voice remained as calm as glass.
"That was very thoughtful of you, darling," I said, looking right into his deceptive blue eyes. "She’s such a dedicated worker."
