Devin thought I didn't know about their parents. I'd read Aster's journals, I knew how Devin and Dayana had been adopted into the family even though they were Montgomery's by name only, but if I mentioned I knew their history, I would have to tell them about the journal, and then Theo would get into trouble.

Devin was still looking at me, waiting for me to say something.

"I'm sorry your parents died, but what else do you expect me to say? I cannot trust you, neither believe anything that you're telling me because you've been nothing but cruel to me. I almost died because of you. Castle would have been dead if we hadn't jumped off a speeding car. We looked out for each other, so if this is one of your ploys where you try to put him in a bad light, it's not working on me, and it never will."

There was silence at the table.

I took deep breaths. I felt like Devin would lash out, but now he wouldn't. He didn't have the authority to do it, and I wasn't scared.

I saw Castle's lip twitch upward in a smirk.

My little speech had been a blow to Devin's ego. He'd expected me to be scandalized by what he'd told me, expected me to lash out. Nothing was going to surprise me anymore.

I'd lived through the worst. My legs were broken, and I was locked in the cellar, accused of being a gold-digger, my nails wrenched out, jumped out of a moving car and emotionally broken, and all this only in a matter of a few months.

I could handle some bitter truths.

"It's not just the murder of our parents, Millie. There are other things you have no clue about."

"I'm sure whatever it is, it wouldn't be anything that I can't handle," I said, climbing to my feet. "Now, if you'll excuse me."

Just before I could leave the table, a hand grasped mine and stopped me.

I whirled around to see Castle holding my hand. His touch burned into an inferno. "Winston will get your anklet off, darling. You should find him first."

The endearing word set a flight of butterflies into my stomach, "Um...yeah...of course, sure. Thank you."

Way to go Millie! You're a blubbering mess.

He chuckled; his laugh was pleasing to my ears. I could have him record an audiobook and keep listening to it and never tire of it. "Don't thank me. It's the least I could do. This isn't a prison, Millicent, it's your home." He kissed my hand, which sent desire shooting through my body.

I was falling deeper in love with him.

I knew the old Castle accepted me and loved me, but having this one say that I belonged here was a validation that I needed to hear.

I nodded and left the room to find Winston.

*~*

It was gone. The tracker was no longer attached to my ankle. It was my first step towards freedom, the freedom that had only been possible because Castle had regained his memories.

When the time to go back to my room arrived, I felt a little on edge.

What would happen now?

Would it be awkward to share a bed? Would he expect me to move my stuff to another room? Castle had been kind to me so far, and although he had admitted to remembering everything slowly, it still felt like we were strangers.

I didn't know what to expect. I climbed the stairs slowly, and when I reached the door, I took a few deep breaths.

When I opened the door, he wasn't in the room. I heaved a sigh.

Disappointment settled within me.

He hadn't asked me to leave, so I had no reason to move out. We were married, and while I didn't know the sleeping habits of rich folks, I would still prefer sleeping with my husband.

I changed into my nightgown, choosing a champagne gold colored one that was lacy, sexy but wasn't over the top. Although I would say it was enticing.

I looked at myself in the mirror, raking my fingers through my hair. Did I look desperate for his attention?

Was I forgetting that Devin had literally called my husband a murderer? And now I was just pretending like I hadn't heard that particular fact.

It's not that I wasn't scared, it meant I trusted Castle.

I started reading a book in bed, waiting to hear his footsteps stirring from the slightest noise coming from outside, but he never came. I pulled on my robe and went out of the room to check on him.

I found him in his study. His unruly dark sable hair was out of place, but it worked for him. He was wearing a t-shirt that encased his biceps deliciously, and he was sporting a five o'clock shadow that I would have loved to feel scrapping between my thighs.

Stop it, Millie!

I tried to push away the lustful cloud. He was hunched over a set of files, going through the papers, when he looked up at me. "Darling."

I don't know if I was ever going to stop blushing like a teen girl whenever he called me that.

"I just came here to check on you," I said.

"There's a shit ton of work for me to look at. Why don't you go to sleep? This is going to take me a while."

"Okay," I was about to leave, but stopped mid-way and turned to face him again.

He regarded me with amusement dancing in his eyes and, to my surprise; he shut the file that he was looking at, giving me his full attention. "I believe you have some questions for me."

I closed the door of the study.

"Did you kill your parents?"

"Parent. Singular. Lorna, who was also known as Lorna Montgomery, wasn't my mother, but yes, I killed both my father and his wife. Devin wasn't lying to you about that." He said casually.

"There has to be a good reason for what you did. I know you wouldn't kill someone just for the heck of it."

"It was revenge for what they did to my mother. It was a chain of events. I killed them, and in turn, Devin tried to kill me. He has his reasons, and I wouldn't fault him for trying." He chuckled, "Failed to get me killed twice. Pulling a Houdini is a specialty of mine."

"So where is your mother, Aster?"

"She is where no one can harm her anymore." He said it with a sad undertone.

"I'm sorry." I said, "they hurt her, didn't they?"

There was a distant look in Castle's eyes. His expressions were dark and unreadable. "I apologize, Millicent. I don't think I'm ready to talk about my mother yet or the things she suffered."

I closed the distance between us and took his hand in mine. "I understand completely, and please know that I'm here if you want to talk. Not just as your wife, but as your friend, too."

He gave me a warm smile. "That means a lot."

"Also..." I started saying without thinking twice, "If our sleeping arrangement bothers you, you can let me know and I'll move out of your bedroom. I understand that you probably wouldn't be very comfortable sharing a bed—

"Come here, Millicent."

A few seconds passed, and I stood there awkwardly, staring at him before I went near him.

"Lose that robe."

I disrobed, but I was wearing the thin camisole nightgown. His hand snaked around my waist as he pulled me towards him. I went to sit directly in his lap sideways, my lips were in direct contact with his cheek. I didn't know what to do with my hands, so I let them remain at my sides.

"Have I given you the impression that I wasn't interested in sharing a bed with you?"

My entire body tingled with awareness as his large hand on my waist pressed me to him.

"Not really."

"But you thought I wasn't interested because I never came to your bed tonight."

"A little."

Castle's gaze narrowed, his long lashes staring at my lips. His thumb traced my bottom lip, which I kissed and, captured his face in both my hands. My nose was touching his and his stubble was grazing my palms, shooting desire to my core. Feeling daring, I gave him a quick peck on his lips.

"You're strong and smart. And beautiful." He rasped, "Any husband who wouldn't want you as their wife is fucking stupid, and I'm everything but that." His fingers dug into my hair as he leaned in and captured my mouth in his. The kiss was soul-searing, and I parted my lips, letting his tongue do the exploration. His lips moved softly at first and then it was wild, but he had finesse. He was working his magic over me, and I felt spellbound.

Castle's hands drifted towards my waist and then to my ass, and the backup. His fingers reached the hem of my cami top and touched my skin. He held me like I was precious. His hand cupped one breast, his eyes had turned a shade darker. He tweaked my nipple mercilessly while his lips continued to assault my mouth. I gasped, partly mortified that I was so completely turned on, and partly just wanting to tell him to keep touching me.

"Castle..."

"This should put your doubts at rest." He whispered, giving me that charming smile again. "I don't think I can get any work done at this point, but I have a feeling that I scare you, and maybe it's because of what you heard from Devin."

"No, you don't scare me," I said and then blushed because he could read my mind.

"I don't have a violent streak, and I didn't lash out at them. I killed them for reasons that I will tell you when I'm comfortable enough to open up. I will never hurt you, and I'm not sure how I could prove that to you." He said sincerely. "Let's do something, Millicent. We'll take it slow, okay?"

I nodded. "Okay."

I climbed out of his lap. "Can I ask you something else?"

"Go ahead."

"What is your best memory of us together?" I asked, "before you remembered your past."

"That would be when we took our walks, went out shopping, and when I took you out to dinners at restaurants. Any time spent with you has always been a delight. I don't think I can choose."

"I see." I smiled and then turned to leave, but then I froze in place.

He'd gone back to looking through his workload. "Anything else I can do for you, Mrs. Montgomery?"

"You said you enjoyed taking me out to dinners at restaurants," I said, my breaths coming out rapidly.

"Yes?"

"You never took me out to dinners, Castle. Devin did not allow it." My voice broke into a whisper.

He stared at me, realizing his mistake. A slip-up.

"Millicent..."

"You don't remember any of it, do you?" I asked, "You don't remember me and you've been pretending. It was all a lie!" 

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