making sure they knew she was there. The sound slithered into Audrey's

inst Dozier's solid chest, her fingers trembling against his dr

for the last shr

ng slightly toward the dark hallway. A complicated

fraction of an inch. She thought he would stop. She thought

was

h of her wrists like iron shackles. He slammed her arms down onto the mattress beside he

llowed her muffled cry of protest. There was no passion in th

heets. Hot, angry tears spilled over her eyelashes, tracking down her tem

ly down the wooden door frame echoed into the room. The physical prox

r silk nightgown. He pulled hard. The sharp soun

r lip. She tasted copper. She refused to make a single sound. She would n

ness. It was a cold, mechanical execution of his marital rights. A

re. A loud, heavy thud echoed as a decorative ceramic vase

y flinch violently. Her bre

fuel his anger. His grip on her hips tightened

eemed to infuriate him more than her struggles. He leaned down, his lips brushing against

nal mental shield. He was dest

led off the bed, his breathing heavy. Without a single backward glance, h

d ragdoll. The sound of the shower turning on hissed through the roo

eated. The psychological warfare had draine

om drawer of the nightstand. She reached past the clutter and pulled out the plain white 'Vitamin C

Dozier walked out, a white tow

y locked onto Audrey hol

ingers trembled violently. She forced herself to casually

the closet. "Pack a bag. We are leaving for the Hampto

f the mattress. "I'm not

d physical distance f

from stone. "You are Mrs. Hodge. You wil

his family name to c

on to hide the dark circles under her eyes and the pale, sickly color of her skin

e, tailored Chanel tweed suit. She stood next to Dozier, looking

She stared coldly at Dozier. "Why is an ou

final line

ch. "Grandma Augusta missed Blake

blatant favoritism as

cep. She leaned her head against his shoulder and shot Audrey a br

d walked straight toward the private elevator. She kept her spine perf

the luxurious cabin was thick and suffocating. The car merged onto the hi