The Secret Asset: Rising From The Shadows

s. Amberly Carson stood beside Eleanor Henry, the woman who was supposed to become her mother

mured, her eyes scanning Amberly's sim

le that didn't reach

a silent command to look

woman in New York. Amberly Carson, the fallen socialite, somehow clawing her wa

tenth time, his gaze darting to the screen of his phone. His thumb hovered over t

The name 'Faith' g

trode to a secluded corner behind a marble pillar,

Her stomach didn't drop. It was all just... quie

d in the suddenly tense silen

n, a raw, st

pital? I'm

o the center of the room, his eyes wild, searching until they landed on

rong?" his mother, Eleanor, d

pointed a trembling

cracking. "This is all because

The polite smiles froze, melting into expression

d unchanged. It was as if he

ice echoing in the cavernous room. "This

rigid with fury. He pushed through the stunned crowd,

the grand ballroom door, a fl

s Amb

he snarled, his hand

dn't block his shove. Instead, her hand shot out, her stiff fingers pressing hard into the

wide, then unfocused. The strength drained from his body

oor, Amberly caught him, easing his large

thless vacuum. Everyone stared, mouths agape, at the brid

ward. "Amberly! What did you

from her white gown. She looked at the two se

ectly level. "He just fainted from th

so clinical, that the guards in

he lectern, and turned to face the crowd. Her gaze swept acros

her voice clear and steady through the

ng the weight of

y announcing the cancellation of

ne back on its stand wi

, at the whispers, at the man lying on the f

ould see, the corner of her mouth lifted into