staircase, gripping the banister until h

tired, the kind of weary satisfaction that comes after a long day of

she? Ad

tairs, sir, Steven

hers, he didn't flinch. He didn't

e in the dark? he asked.

a time. The pain in her arm was a dull throb now, ove

ked. Her voice was ste

rk. I heard you checked yourself out. That was irresponsible

VIP maternity ward consid

he liquid splashed slightly over the rim. He se

opped an octave. It wasn't a

eren't exactly hiding. You carrie

k against the mahogany bar, crossing his an

time. It's a high-risk pre

a brittle, sharp sound. Twelve week

. That was an accide

eeping with your ex-girlfriend in London

hard. The sound echoed

terical. Casie is fragile. She's not like you. You... you ca

d. It meant used to sufferin

ght to loom over her, a tactic that usually made her shrink back. But tonight, she stood her ground.

sked. There is

fe. You're a Horton now. You signed the prenup. You k

brush a stray hair

s hand were a burning brand. Don

air, then dropped to his si

home in Ohio? The nothingness? I gave you a life. I gave you

t out loud. To him, she was a rescue dog. A charity case he had

divorce,

derisive snort. He pic

se. You like the clothes. You like

ching her over the

a pill. We'll talk about

d into his study, closing the heavy

a vase in the corner, keeping her head resolutely down, pre

strange sensation washed over her. It

e would not sleep in their bed tonight. She wou