tled on Katherine's delicate features, scrutinizing her wit

in lips parted slightl

ed her lashes and answered in

s for his mercurial temperament and ruthless decisiveness. Katherine knew better than

his oppressive gaze. The faint suspici

an with extraordinary marksmanship had appeared out of nowhere, saved him, and vanishe

revealing only a pair of eyes. Those eyes-cold, reso

ooked far too gentle, too innocent. Sh

arrived beside them,

ion with a girl. He even considered recording the moment and sending

ssessed an unexpected talent for

te families have been close for generations. The flight base where I bought thes

count," Stefan added coolly, his

d toward Kather

mposed, her exp

. A discount-or the lack of on

"Mom and Dad were overjoyed when they learned you

ed. She felt a strange

eginning to p

vast grounds of a magnificent estate. Nearby, a Rolls-Royc

ed into the car, his express

assuring smile. "Don't mind him. He's just g

ghtly. She hadn't eve

inking figure in the rearview mirror. The suspi

mble that woman's... Even her silh

in this world t

time assistant, noticed

his employer lost i

ked carefully, "Sir, would you like

cold eyes

reasonab

e the assassination attempt from last year. Coll

as surprised, thou

rching for his savior-but he hadn't e

d into the distance, Katherine follo

strained with urgency and sorrow. Before Katherine could ful

ng to her as if afraid she might disappear again.

n't fallen during pregnancy, Katherine wouldn't have been born prematurely. If she had b

speak, Juliette's tea

e embrace. "It's alright," s

chest, flowing into her limbs like a quiet tide. Juliette wa

everything. Juliette had blamed her

barely eating. Her health had deteriorated year after year.

rollably in her daughter's arms. For the first time in twenty years, her heart felt l