From Tragedy To Triumph: The Bride Who Defied Fate

, so there won't be

eed sat rigidly in his wheelchair, his voice flat and

ssing into her pale lower lip as her nerves showed. "That's fine," she said quietly

ped from Connor at her answ

his hard profile-high nose, clean lines, all severity-as his words land

ent flooding in as her eyes glassed over

his arranged marriage was a reckless throw of t

nstead. For three exhausting years, she had chased fragments of his past, throwing away her pride and even her body-let

lapsed under illness soon after. Through it all, Nicole had swallowed

finally broke beyond repair. The illegitimate son of the Reed family standing before her-

back down, and said in a low voice, "If you throw me out, the Reed family will ju

s lips. "So you're that eager to

family already gave my family money. The deal is se

almost imperceptibly. A sudden, idle curiosity stirred in hi

t he was grotesque, demon-like, she reflexively squeezed her eyes shut the instant he turn

fine, her skin smooth as polished porcelain. From his perspective, she was acceptable at best. Among all the women pushed in his direction over the

said flatly, gesturing to

d, leaving her rooted to the spot. "Didn't you say

onse. "Does lying in a bed autom

further, afraid one wrong word might cost her everything. Peeking through her las

nkly speaking, even a corpse would'v

sed on the faint whir of the wheelchair dr

nt voice brushed her ear

o..." The words having sex burned her throat, sending a tremor throu

answered, "I need to confirm

Nicole forced her eyes open,

rom the grotesque monster whispered about. Connor's features were s

y," she said hoarsely, scrambling for composure. "I think I wal

, he replied, "And w

" she replied, voice unsteady. "You look mo

at's because I'm wearing a mask stitched together from

failed. The weapon hidden beneath her skirt slipp

settling on the fallen object and register