his voice echoing in the sudde

what? We all know Ariel has nothing else to offer. Why

The sheer contempt in his eyes ma

n," Holloway stated, his tone as dry and factual as a legal bri

landed lik

ven the rain seemed to stop

ace a mask of pure, unadulterated shock. The pain in his

ened and closed, but no sound came out. Fiancée? The

n? The woman they had called a barren hen? She wa

, that's impossible. She's nothing. She's a Melton. She'

g her in a new light-a terrifying one.

breakdown. He continued, hi

the information sink in, "in the eyes of th

actions just now-raising a hand to her, injuring her-constitute an assault

e Garrick had left. He hadn't just attacked his ex-wife. He

the icy dread gripping her heart. Her pregnancy, her position as Garrick's mistre

ood the bow. She un

head once more. "Miss Melton, the air in this

briefly to Garrick and Lacey,

the future mistress

wasn't going to be the lady of the house. She was never going

ng blankly at the floor. His world had just been