ing. The only sound was the ragged, uneve

gainst the copy of the marriage certificate. He picked it up. His eyes filled with

"Why?" he choked out. "Why would you sac

in her chest. Her ribs felt tight. She knew she could never tell him the trut

his chair. She reached out and grabbed his cold, trembling hands.

ce to soften. She pulled up a bright, sickeningly sweet smi

softly. "It's not a sacrifice

confusion. He knew the reputation of the Wall

started spinning the lie. "We met at the charity g

nt from what the papers say. We talked for hours. He starte

y's trouble, he was furious that I didn't tell him. He insisted on

he story. Jalynn kept her gaze steady, pouring every oun

release. He let out a long, heavy sigh. He turned

ruthless, Jalynn," Silas whispere

He treats me like a queen, Dad.

ore he asked for more details. "How

the supply chain. Crowe Holdings is our core supplier. Walter Crowe calle

it was only meant to cover the bank loans. It wouldn't be enough to buy o

voice firm. "I'll use the Atkins connection

avily against her shoulder. She walked him slowly up

on and fell into a deep sleep. Then, she backed

the door open and collapsed onto the massive bed. She stare

t the diamond ring. The stone looked like a chunk of ice. The metal

wled. The physical need to break out of this

more minute playing the gentle, obedie

racks of pastel dresses and modest skirts out of the w

kit from her college days-a tiny, black slip dress and a high-quality, ash-blonde wig. The fabric of the

ss over her head. She sat at her vanity and aggressively applied thick, dark eyelin

messy waves. She pulled it over her dark hair,

wild, reckless, and completely unrecognizable. Jalynn

e side door into the night. She needed the loud, chaotic energy of t