"He is never to step foot in this manor again without my explicit permission," I inform her. "Is that understood, Antonia?"

"Yes, sir." She dips her head. "I am sorry."

"Do you know what was discussed between them on his visit today?"

"No, I am afraid I was not present, other than to escort him into the room."

It's a fact I am already aware of, given that's exactly what I saw on the camera. But still I had hoped there would be some useful scrap of information. I know Abel was not visiting his sister out of the kindness of his heart.

Antonia remains there, uncertain, waiting for me to dismiss her. But I am trying and failing to find my next words, and when I do, my voice is stiffer than usual.

"Did she request to see me at all today?"

Her eyebrows shoot up in surprise, and she shuffles her weight uncomfortably from one foot to the other. "No, sir."

"I see."

I consider turning around. That's what I should do. But try as I might, I find that I can't.

"You are dismissed, Antonia. Have a good evening."

She nods and scurries away, leaving me to a strange emptiness as my only companion when I make my way toward Ivy's door. When my palm curves around the knob, I try again to find a justification not to go in. I have no doubt she is still angry with me. There will be bitterness. There will be hatred. And for a moment, I'm not sure I want to see those emotions reflected in her eyes. Not tonight.

My forehead sags against the door as I consider what needs to be done. I'm still trying to find my anger when the knob turns from the other side, and the door opens to the sight of a startled Ivy.

She gasps when she sees me and immediately turns to flee back to the sanctuary of her bed. But the predator in me captures her around the waist before she even makes it two steps, dragging her back into my arms.

She trembles as I turn her in my grasp, my fingertips gliding over the silky material of her nightgown. Her head falls forward, hair shielding her face from my eyes as she tries to hide from me.

"And where exactly do you think you were going, Mrs. De La Rosa?" I whisper into her hair.

"Nowhere." She tries to yank away from my grasp but fails. "I heard a noise out there. I didn't realize it was you. If I had, I would have just barricaded the door."

I close my eyes and inhale the sweet scent of her shampoo. "Is that any way to greet your husband?"

"You are my husband in name only," she declares.