Lara's POV
"Good morning, Marco," I said softly. I wanted to call him Mr. Blackwell, but I could not bring myself to do it, not when his butler was standing behind him, watching us. I walked toward the front porch, trying to appear calm even though my heart was thundering in my chest.
The moment our eyes met, his expression hardened, and I quickly looked away, pretending to admire the flowers by the railing. The sight of him here, with her standing so close beside him, made my blood quietly boil.
The thought that he might have left me just to be in her arms stung more than I wanted to admit. How was I supposed to survive this kind of arrangement, seeing Serene near him all the time while I played the part of the wife who did not exist in his heart?
"Good morning, Lara," he said as he stepped forward. Before I could react, he leaned in and pressed his lips against mine. It was brief, almost mechanical, but still enough to make my foolish heart flutter.
