Chapter 1After marrying Callum Graves—head of the Graves family, aka "the Reaper"—I noticed something seriously messed up.
Callum's super uptight and keeps me at arm's length during the day.
But at night? Total 180.
Sweet, clingy, can't get enough of me.
I figured he was just shy during the day, you know? Didn't know how to show he cared.
Then one night, we're in bed and he's breathing in my ear.
"Evie, don't let Callum touch you. You're mine, only mine..."
I froze.
The guy on top of me had Callum's exact face.
If he's not Callum...
Who the hell is he?
...
Next morning, I tested him.
"So about that surprise you mentioned last night?"
He looked confused.
"Last night? I was in my office the whole time. When did I see you?"
I stirred my coffee, trying to play it cool.
"Oh... guess I was dreaming."
But inside? I was freaking out.
I WAS right!
The guy I slept with last night WASN'T Callum!
But that face...
If it's not Callum, who is it?
My skin went cold.
I couldn't say anything. Couldn't ask Callum about it.
This marriage was arranged—he doesn't love me.
If anyone finds out about this, I'm done. The Hayes family will destroy me.
That night, I watched Callum go into his office like always.
I went back to the bedroom, totally on edge.
Took a shower. Changed.
Midnight hit.
Someone pulled me against their chest.
That smell... I knew it.
My heart started racing.
I went stiff, trying to keep it together.
His warm breath brushed my neck.
The hard and burning thing pressed against my inner thigh.
Next second, his voice came out low and rough in my ear.
"Evie, I didn't see you all day. Missed you so much."
But we literally just had dinner together...
Something cold touched my finger.
He slipped a ring on my hand.
His fingers traced my palm, voice gentle.
"The surprise I promised... You like it?"
I couldn't take it anymore.
Looked up at that face—exactly like Callum's—and my voice shook.
"Who are you?"
He froze. Then laughed.
"I'm Connor of course! Babe. What's wrong?""
Wait a minute...
Connor???
WHO THE HELL IS CONNOR?!
Three months living here, never heard that name once.
This Connor guy pushed me down on the bed.
Started kissing me like usual—my face, my lips.
Going lower.
I snapped out of it and stopped him.
"Sorry, I'm not feeling good tonight."
He didn't get mad. Just pulled me close.
His hand rubbed my back, slow and easy.
"It's okay. Sleep. I'm right here."
Don't know when I fell asleep.
Woke up alone.
I got up and found a staff member downstairs.
"You know anyone named Connor?"
She shook her head.
Asked a few more people. Same thing—nobody knew.
If it wasn't for this ring still on my finger—I'd think I dreamed the whole thing.
Someone said to ask the head housekeeper.
She's been here thirty years, knows everything.
But when I said Connor's name—
Her face went white.
She covered my mouth fast.
"Mrs. Graves, don't ever say that name again!"
Chapter 2
She wouldn't tell me anything.
But one thing's clear.
There S someone named Connor in this family.
That night Callum came home and actually asked if I was okay.
I grabbed his hand before I could chicken out.
"Can you... sleep in the bedroom tonight?"
He frowned.
I rushed to explain. "I had nightmares last night. Don't wanna be alone."
He thought about it forever, then nodded.
That night, Callum slept next to me.
Kept his back to me the whole time. Stayed on his side of the bed.
But middle of the night, someone touched my hair.
I opened my eyes. Moonlight showed his face.
"Callum, what's wrong?"
His hand stopped. I saw anger flash in his eyes.
"Evie, don't say his name around me. I don't like it."
I was wide awake now.
That look, that tone...
This is Connor!
But Callum's supposed to be right next to me! How's Connor even here?
I turned to look—Callum was gone.
"Where's Callum? Where'd he go??"
Connor's face went cold. He grabbed my chin, made me look at him.
"Evie, you're mine. Stop thinking about him."
He kissed me before I could say anything.
Soft but demanding—wouldn't take no for an answer.
I tried to fight him off. Didn't matter.
He pushed inside me again, and everything went hazy.
Between moans, I forced myself to focus for just a second.
Eyes burning, I bit out:
"What are you... to Callum?"
"Brother."
His grip on my hand tightened.
Thrust in deep and came hard.
"Evie, I'll be waiting for you... in the sealed room."
Pulled out, taking the last bit of my sanity with him.
Through my half-drunk haze, I watched him get up and leave.
Something cold pressed into my palm.
I looked down—a key.
Checked my phone. 4 AM.
Ignored how sore I was, grabbed that key tight, and crept toward the sealed room at the end of the house—the one everyone avoided.
Before I married in, they told me to stay away from there.
But I HAD TO know who I've been sleeping with.
I unlocked the sealed room.
Inside wasn't messy like I thought.
Everything was clean, organized.
Desk was spotless—someone definitely cleans in here.
I called out quietly, "Connor."
Nothing.
The bookshelf had a bunch of trophies and awards.
Two school uniforms hanging up.
A picture frame face-down on the desk.
I flipped it over.
Two identical boys, maybe twelve or thirteen.
Callum and Connor?
They're TWINS??
Coming out, I passed the office. The door suddenly opened.
I jumped.
Callum looked past me, down the hallway.
"Where were you?"
I swallowed. "Couldn't sleep... just walking around."
"Don't go down there again."
I nodded. "Why are you in your office?"
"Came back after you fell asleep."
My heart sank.
Callum doesn't love me. Doesn't want me.
He can't be Connor.
Chapter 3
That afternoon, I went to see Mom.
Her condition's all over the place. Good days, bad days.
She had an episode at lunch. They gave her something to knock her out.
I held her hand. Didn't even know what to say.
Years ago, Dad left us for his career.
Got remarried fast. Had another kid.
My mom couldn't handle the betrayal. Lost her mind. Got sent to a facility when I was seven.
And me?
Got shipped back to the Hayes mansion.
But being part of a rich family?
Not as great as it sounds.
My stepmom and half-sister made my life hell. Dad didn't care.
When the Graves picked me for this arranged marriage, I finally got out.
I just wanted peace.
Instead I'm sleeping with my husband's twin brother...
God, I'm so screwed!
"Knew I'd find you here with the psycho!"
I turned around. Delaney.
My half-sister.
She looked me up and down, all jealous and mean.
"You look good. Living the dream at the Graves place, huh?"
She snorted.
"If you hadn't gotten lucky, why would someone like Callum marry a psycho's daughter?"
For years I took their crap.
Kept quiet. Kept my head down.
Scared they'd say I was crazy too and lock me up like Mom.
Not anymore.
I smiled and let my collar slip, showing the marks on my neck.
"Callum treats me real good. Can't keep his hands off me at night."
"If he knew you were talking to his wife like this... what do you think he'd do to your family?"
Delaney panicked.
"I wasn't—Don't twist my words!"
"Look, I'm just here with a message."
"Dad wants you to set up dinner with the Graves family this weekend."
"If you don't? He cuts off your mom's treatment."
With that, she ran off.
The Hayes family wants to use me to get close to the Graves.
But I was lying.
The Graves don't care about me.
Callum sure doesn't.
But Mom's care costs a fortune every month. With Dad threatening me like this, I can't say no.
That night, I told Callum about the dinner.
Expected him to say no. But he agreed.
So, weekend, the Hayes family showed up. Even early.
Besides Callum, his mom came too. Who lives at the main estate all the time.
Only met her once, at the wedding.
She's cold, barely smiles.
Has this rich-person vibe that screams "don't talk to me."
Guess Callum got that cold, distant personality straight from her.
I walked up. "Hi... Mom."
She gave a tiny nod. Nothing more.
At dinner, my family kept kissing up to Callum and his mom.
Delaney came over with a wine glass to toast me.
"Cheers, sis."
She raised her glass.
Right when I lifted mine, her hand "slipped."
Wine splashed down my front.
"Oh no! I'm so sorry!"
She rushed over with napkins, making a big show of cleaning it up.
Before I could stop her, she yanked my collar down.
Every mark on my collarbone suddenly on display for everyone to see...
