ng in the lock was violen

ythmic ache, like a hammer striking inside my skull. I was in a bed. A s

was rumpled, the strap h

voice commanded

elchair facing the door. He had his back to me, his

nd, holding his black suit jacket. He t

r you

h the jacket to my chest b

t Victoria. I

inding white strobes left spots in my vision. I screamed, pu

ice was a theatrical shrie

by three men with cameras and a handful of "concerned"

!" Julia

phers hesitated, lowering their cameras for a split second. Julian w

his face twisted in a mask of fury. "Get you

with triumph. "We were just looking for Elena. Ryan wa

ed, my voice cracking. "I felt

rters muttered, snapping anothe

"Look at her. Disgraceful. Ryan is downstairs heartbroken,

d' hung in the ai

might bend. He looked at Victoria, then back at me. His eyes were dark, unr

ctoria. "She didn't

m went

performance of resignation that was terrifyingly convinci

d. "What? No,

me because she couldn't stand the sight of your son anymore. She chose me. We thoug

preying on a helpless invalid. But Julian painting himself as the secret lover? It made Ryan look

recovering quickly. "You're disgust

made me," Julian said

rters back into the hallway. The door slam

n's back. He was

ered. "Why did

e vulnerability was gone. His

contract and destroy your family," he said coldly. "If we are lovers, it's just a scanda

tears streaming down my face. "My life

lian said. "Get dressed. Arthur is waitin