streets of Chelsea, letting the hars

vibrating aggressively. The scre

ressed the answer button and

through the speaker, cold and absolute. "You are not to

eyes, the street

utally honest. "I can't even bear to touch a single hair on

into Aletha's chest and shredding the very last,

lled the phone away, ended the call,

corner near the Chelsea Art Gallery. This was the

brass bell chimed brightly. The warm air and the smel

to a passing waiter, grabbed a flute of cham

er throat, but it did nothing to melt

ght, blocking the crowd. The familiar, comforting

ual calm, collected demeanor of the Wall Street p

e empty glass from her tight grip. His

?" he asked, his voi

to a polite smile, but the moment she met her childh

d her shoulders, shielding her from the crowd, and guided her

Julian stripped off his custom suit jacket an

stared down at the blurry headlights of the traffic

focating toxicity of her three-year loveless marriage. She told him about the h

him she was Lan-but she gave him all

ark white. The veins on the back of his hands bulged, an

Aletha by the shoulders, fo

fierce determination. "Just nod your head, Aletha,

er, broken smile. She

clauses. My family is tied into his trust. I can

r his breath, calling Kristo

ound her. His large hand rubbed soothing circles on her back,

se muscles finally relax in a space whe

the main exhibition hall downstairs, sha

tly shifting into a defensive glare as he looked toward

a deep, steadying breath, locking her emotions back behi