When we returned to the villa, I realized I should change my tactic around Christian or he would always have power over me. Due to my persistence to stay at Catherine’s place for lunch, he wasn’t able to go wherever he wanted to go. I’ve always wanted to ask him about the smudge of lipstick on his collar but I should control my desire to know everything at once. Someday, I’d be able to use that piece of information against him…and Catherine!

“The house is dark,” I noticed when we entered the gated estate, and aside from the sounds of frogs and crickets, the silence was deafening.

“Probably a power...