er words were short and steady, yet the mea

seconds. Then Mabel exploded

three whole years looking after him, and the moment he's finally able to stand again, he runs straight back

she became, her voice rising unti

Quit your ranting and get

ar reluctance. A second later, warmth returned to her voice. "Okay, okay.

, Kristina remained

pt creeping back up, and every so often

the room. Her eyes eventually settled on the photograph rest

He stood facing the light, his

us than expected. She had been hurt, and when death was

to repay that life-saving debt, she discovered that he had

randmother, she agreed to marry him and remai

as no longer simple gratitude; affection had quietly taken ro

l rumble of a luxury SUV

I'm here

ived with rem

n her eyes, lifted her suitcase, and hurrie

wung the vehicle around and sped away s

ristina's chest r

to the Cooper estat

taken Kristina's identification documents and handled the process of registering

complete the divorce with Matthew and finally

tering through the front door, she climbed throug

lay asleep on the bed, her

uments and share certificates, and at the very bottom reste

document and slipped back out to the

ertificate resting on her lap and glance

rtificate wasn't Matthew at all. It