ld across the small apartment. Amara hadn't slept. Her eyes were swol

the first time, she didn't feel like part of that blur. She felt... still. P

woman she barely recognized. Her hair was messy, eyes rimmed with red,

ater on her face until the cold stun

awake on the couch. "Yo

her head.

ng her eyes. "He'l

brushing her wet hair back. "

"What are yo

id. "To get my thin

he'd run from just hours ago. The building loomed high and cold, its marble entrance spotless

course it did. Ethan didn't

pulse in her ears. By the time the doors slid open, her hea

r-to-ceiling window, shirt pressed, hair slicked back, every inch the composed billionaire the world wor

relief flooding his

my things," s

d. "Don't

her voice steady. "Fin

're angry, I understand that. But you

"I saw you with her. I saw

hand, but she ste

ly, his tone rehearsed, coaxing. "It did

Her voice trembled-not from fear, but from

ration bleeding through. "You walked ou

thing left

ng closer again. "Because you're my

"Then maybe I'm not

slap. His jaw clenched,

ing to something darker. "You don't

ng. "The only thing I regret is g

laring. "You're not leaving li

ken," she sa

ered her suitcase, the few clothes she cared to take, her journals, and the framed photo of her paren

," sh

oice dropping to a whisper. "Yo

. Then she said softly, "I used to. But lovin

him and walked

u think you can just lea

n the doorknob, but

. "That's exact

ed the door-

-in-law, Eleanor Blackwell-elegant, intimidating, and dangerous in her silenc

t seems the rumors were true. The

ed behind Ama

d on Amara. "You really think leaving my son will save

, the champagne spilling ont

ulating stare, something inside

ady," she said quietly. "Beca