rhythmic beep of a heart monitor drilled into her aching head. She forced her

ad been crushed in a vice. A dull, th

ped to her stomach. She pressed her palm against the hospital gow

reath. The knot in her ches

walked in. He held a sleek black fo

eyes were devoid of sympathy. "Mr. Va

ope onto her lap. He placed a

coldly. "The alimony is generous. Once

The corners of her cracked lips twitch

ripped the IV needle out of the back of her right hand. Bri

flipped to the last page and slashed her signature across

d threw it at Julian's chest.

ing his professional mask. He gathered the

ile, defeated posture vanished. Her spi

sical force. Her father, standing on the edge of the Wall Street

arrogant voice echoing through the speakerphone, systematically destroying

ina Fletcher. She

-in. She had swallowed her pride, infiltrated his life, and

ashed over her. She hated herself for the moments she had almost b

m. She made a silent vow to the father she couldn't

er teeth against the agonizing pain in her ri

room. She gasped and dropped a roll of

rist. Her grip was surprisingly

n Seraphina's eyes. "Y-yes. There are signs of threat

at in my chart. You will tell no one. If Alistair finds

the crushing weight of the woman

nd raced. Alistair would demand medical records so

She had to disappear