DRIANSPOV Youdidnttellmeanythingaboutfollowingrules,OliviasaidasIremovedmytieinfrontofthemirror.
Well,nowyousee them,Irepliedcoolly.Andyouarenottobreakanyofthoserules.Icouldseehereyesscanningthepaperinherhands,thedisbeliefevidentinherexpression.Herfingersclutchedtheedgestightlyasifshewantedtoripitapart,butsheknewbetter.
RULEBOOK Curfew leave.
Youmustbeinsidethemansionby8:00PMeverynightunlesspermittedto NoUnauthorizedCommunicationYouarenotallowedtomakephonecalls,sendmessages,ormeetwithanyonewithoutmyapproval.
RestrictedAreasYouarenotallowedtoentermy office,thelibrary,oranyotherlockedroomsinthehouse.
DressCodeYouwillwearonlytheclothesIprovideforyou.Anythingoutsideofmyselectionisnotpermitted.
MealTimesYou willeatmealsatdesignatedtimes,andonlyinthediningroom.Skippingmealsoreatingelsewhereisnotallowed.
YouaretlyforbiddenfromcontactingJulianoranyof NoContactwithJulianhisassociates.
Respectand ObedienceYouwilladdressmewithrespectatalltimesandfollowmyinstructionswithoutargument.
No,LeavingWithoutPermissionYouarenotallowedtoleavetheestatewithoutmyauthorization.
SurveillanceAwarenessEveryroomexceptyourbedroomandbathroomismonitored.Donotattempttodisableoravoidsurveillance.

GuestsAreNotAllowedYouarenotpermittedtoinviteorhostanyoneatthemansionwithoutmyapproval.
DailyCheckinsYou mustcheckinwithmeeverymorningandeverynighttoreportyouractivities fortheday NoSecretsIfyouarehidingsomethingfrommewillfindout.Itsbettertobe Successfullyunlocked! honestupfront.
Oliviascoffed,shakingherheadasshelookedupatme.Theserulesaretoomuch.Imnotaprisonerhere.
CHAPTER036 Iturnedtofaceherfully,steppingcloser.Wouldyoupreferto beaprisonerinjail? Herthroatbobbedassheswallowedhard.Thatwasenoughtoshutherup.
ThelasttimeIleftyouunchecked,withoutanyrules,yougrewwings.Askingforadivorce,talkingtomewithoutrespect,Isaid,myvoicedroppinglower,controlledbutfirm.Thatsnotgoingtohappenasecondtime.
Sheclenchedherfists,herdefiancestillflickeringinthoseeyes.Sothatsit?Yourejustgoingtousethatagainstmeeverysingletime? Yes,becausethepowerisinmyhands.Itapped thepapershewasholding.Andifyoubreakanyoftheserules,therewillbeconsequences.Trustme,youdontwanttoknowthem.
Net thathangintheairbetweenusbeforeturningaway.Ihadnotimetowastearguingwithhertonight.Withoutanotherword,Iclimbedintobed.Therewasworktodotomorrow,andIwouldntletherdisturbmyfocus.
Nextmorning.
Iwokeupbeforemyalarm,thesoftglowoftheearlymorningsuncreepingthroughthecurtains.Sittingup,IturnedmyheadtoglanceatOlivia.Shewasstillasleep.
Iswungmylegsoutofbed,stretchingslightlybeforeheadingintothebathroom.Ihadalongdayahead,andwastingtimewasnotanoption.Thewarmwaterhitmyskin,andIletoutaslowbreath,clearingmymind.
BythetimeIsteppedout,towelaroundmywaist,Oliviawasstillcurled upinbed,herdarkhairspillingoverthepillow.

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Shewasstillasleep? Iletoutaquietscoff.
PartofthereasonIbroughtherbackwassoshecouldresumeherduties,yethereshewas,sleepinginasifshehadnothingtodo.
Walkingovertohersideofthebed,Igaveherasmalltaponthehead.
Nothing.
Ifrownedslightlybeforetappingheragain,alittleharderthistime.Shestirred,groaningashereyesslowlyopened.
Whatdoyouthinkthisis?Asleepingparty?I said,mytonesharp.Didyouforgetwhyyourebackhere?Youresupposed topickoutanoutfitforme.
Sheletout asmallsigh,rubbinghertemplesasshesatup.Awifewholovesherhusbandpicksouthisoutfit,andlastIchecked,Imnotinlovewithyouanymore,shesaid,hervoicelacedwithquietdefiance.
Thatsentencealonewasenoughtomakemybloodboll.
Inoneswiftmovement ,I grabbedherwrist,yankinghertoherfeet.Shegasped,her 7/3 CHAPTER036 eyeswideningslightly.
Iwasntasking,Isaidcoldly.
Forasecond,wejuststoodthere,ourgazeslocked.Thestubbornnessinhereyes hadntfaded,butsheknewbetterthantopushfurther.

Withaclenchedjaw,shepulledherwristfreeandturnedtowardthewardrobe.
Isatontheedgeofthebed,watchinghersilentlypickoutmyoutfitfortheday.Shebarelylookedatme,hermovementsprecisebutdetached,asifthiswasjustanothertaskshehadbeenforcedtoperform.Ididntmindobedience waswhatmattered.
Shelaidthesuitonthebed,acrispnavyensemble,beforesteppingback.
Happy?shesaidwithasarcastictone.
Iignoredherandpickedupthesuit Itookmytimedressing,adjustingmytieinthemirror,mygazebrieflyflickeringtoherreflection.Shestoodstiffly,armscrossed,herdefiancebarelyhiddenbeneathhercomposedexterior.
Goodchoice,Isaidsimply,fasteningmycufflinks.
Shedidntrespond,onlyturningawayandwalkingtowardthewindow.Iletitslide.Shewasstilladjustingtothenewrules,butsoonenough,shedunderstandthat resistancewasuseless.
Ileftwithoutanotherword,steppingintotheblackSUVwaitingoutside.Thedrivetothe officewassmooth,butaswenearedthebuilding,thesightofflashinglightsandatgrowingcrowdofreporterscameintoview.Asexpected.
ThemomenttheSUVrolledtoastop,mysecuritydetailmovedintoplace,creatingaclearpath.ThesecondIsteppedout,microphones wereshovedinmyface,reportersshoutingoveroneanother,andcamerasclickinginrapidsuccession.
Mr.Westwood!Whatdoyouhavetosayaboutyourwifehugginganotherman? The questionrangout,loudandpiercing,justasIhadintended.
Ismirked.Perfect.