“Water,” she croaked, and immediately a glass of deliciously cool water was put to her lips. Greedily she drank, not caring that some water spilled down onto her dress.

“Easy now,” someone muttered.

Whispering a thanks, she pushed away the glass, and sat up. Rubbing her eyes, she looked around the room which was obviously a study, complete with a writing desk and one entire wall lined with books.

“Feeling better? Do you need a doctor?”

Turning her head, she looked at Tahlia who sat in a chair next to the sofa she was on.

Sofa? She frowned. Why was she on a sofa, or in the study, she wondered, looking around. And why would she need a doctor?

Seeing her confusion, Tahlia whispered, “You fainted. I think you should see a doctor.”

“No!” she exclaimed, surprising both her sister and her mother, who sat beside her. She looked around for Leandro and found him standing by the window, a quizzical look on his face. “I’m fine...I just need some time alone.”

“How is that going to help?” Sylvia remarked, clearly unhappy with her reply but Tahlia came to her rescue.

“It’s the stress,” she said, and Raquel nodded.

“Y—yes... I just need a few minutes alone.”

Sylvia looked like she wanted to protest but Leandro was quick to come to her aid, ushering her mother and sister out of the study but not before sending a strange look her way. Tahlia too, looked puzzled as she followed Leandro.

Relieved, she slumped against a cushion. But the relief didn’t last long because her heart raced when she thought back to what had occurred in the dining room.

Alexandre washere! And he was her fiancée’s brother!

What was she going to do now? How could she look him in the eye and pretend that they didn’t know each other when they had been as intimate as two people physically could be? Perhaps if she stayed in this room, she won’t have to see him again? But how long was she going to hide from him? Sooner or later, she would have to leave this room and face both Alexandre and Leandro.

The thought filled her with dread.

Would Alexandre acknowledge her? Or would he pretend that he didn’t know her? Would he expose her secret before she could tell Leandro the truth herself?

The questions swirled around in her head, making her head spin.

When the door opened noisily, she looked up. Shock blasted through her when Alexandre stepped inside the room and locked the door behind him.