Days passed. Dorian asked if she wanted to attend Maximilian's funeral. She knew he wanted to attend it, but she had asked Amelia's help, and so Catherine was "banned" from Maximilian's funeral.
How Catherine handled it made Dorian ease around her.
Little by little, Catherine became part of Dorian's household.
Ten days after moving into the mansion, he had already given her unrestricted access to his study, trusting her to enter even when he was away.
The irony was not lost on her.
In their previous life, Dorian had rarely been left alone with her. His father-in-law, ministers, and senior advisors had carefully kept them apart, convinced that a beautiful young queen would eventually soften the king's resolve. Every conversation had been watched. Every moment together had been interrupted.
Back then, everyone had feared her influence.
In this life, there was no royal court to separate them. Dorian himself opened every door. Every door… except one.
