ennifer. His expression stayed distant as he

nnifer's face, and her hands tightened

t on right away. With a small nod,

Vernon's birthday today. I'd like to play someth

s, dressed in white, she sat straight in

music began. The tune came out steady, yet i

he guests responded

ned. Their smiles stayed in place, but their thoughts told a different story. It

thout hesitation. "Jennifer is a talented accor

to protect Jennifer, Theo didn't

ppeared in his expression. "Jennifer's concert is coming up

into Olivia

hestra, yet Theo had never once been there. Now he

, and a shadow c

utely not. I don't waste my

. "If it were Olivia's concert, thoug

ined from Jen

t Vernon's approval, becoming part of

nd, Olivia wa

on a soft, teasing smile. "Olivia, you're known as the youngest accordionist in the c

via's wrapped hand, and

she knew she would

njury, Olivia couldn

would make sure Olivia embarrass

the injury further. There was no outc

aching hand, and discomfort s

ath brushing her ear. "It's Grandpa's birthday. Think about what you're

once had he asked about it. Instead,

pt her expression steady as she looked at Vernon. "Since someone like Jennifer

ennifer a small, polite nod be

ifer had used. It wasn't the one she pr

e began to play the very sam

s face went pale. "She's playi

but his attention stayed fixed on Olivia. He di

oved swiftly over the keys. Blood

he image of Theo standing with Jennifer filled her mind, each n

. What began steady soon burst into

om the front. "I

injured hand gave way under the strain, smearing the keys as

moving. The sound climbed higher, sha

voices followed, until the room filled

ce, Olivia's felt overwhelming, like it

poor Olivia," he said quietly. "She's

, pale and stained with blood, yet

eir admiration clear. Even a well-known playboy let out

ng twisted inside Theo. A possessiv

it. Her expres

y?

, Olivia still

she still held

ision formed. She wouldn't le

stroom to tend to her hand. The moment she stepped back

sitation, his hold firm and unrelenting. She p

ay others looked at her stirred something he couldn't

htly, his hand still holding her in place. His voice d