She did not stop at the foot of the bed. She walked right up to the side, reached out with

ver-slicked skin like a physical blow. She gasped, her body

ability only l

's wrist. Smack. The sharp, cracking sound of skin hitting skin echoed loudly in the large bedroom. Herta's arm froze mid-air, her eyes widening in

Connell," Herta hissed, her voice dropping to a dan

st the headboard. Her chest heaved as she struggled to draw ai

ely a whisper, hoarse and broken, but the absolute ve

thmic sound of expensive leather shoes hitti

ked immaculate again. He waved his hand dismissively. Herta and the

fever, and her chest was rising and falling rapidly. For a fraction of a second, his eyes darted away, unable to meet her

the smooth, patronizing tone h

a massive favor. "If you just come downstairs right now and apologize

ly straight teeth. A wave of intense nausea rolled through

augh. "You want the victim t

vealing the controlling tyrant underneath. He felt he had genero

l manifestation of his rising temper. "Watch your

eyes, Carl decided to pull out his ultimate weapon. He ne

he navy blue Oscar de la Renta dress. We have guests arriving from the Astor-Pa

e's face closely, waiting for

g them," he added casually. "I ex

ine's chest like

Carl's childhood sweetheart, and the woman who had spent the l

ith his campaigns. Anabella casually adjusting Carl's tie at a gala while Justine stood right next to them. And Carl-C

llow her pride. She would force herself into a corset and a

ree fever caused by his son, the thought of e

hin. She looked dire

he two words were spoken wit

lly thought he had mis

r voice flat. "I am not going downst

pure rage. He interpreted her refusal entirely through the lens of his own

he high ceiling. "You are going to sabotage a critical

f his hands down onto the mattress on either side of Justine's

he hissed through clenched teeth

he leaned forward slightly, cl

with pure disgust. "Your limit is forcing your sic

s hypocrisy. It was the unspoken truth of the

pushed himself off the bed so fast he nearly st

n around and marched toward the door. He yanked it o

the entire staff to hear, "then take her down to the wine cellar. Lock her in

s contracted to

ve the vintage wines. For someone burning with a high fever, being locked

y snapped her fingers. The two strong maids stepped forward, grabbed

of strength from her muscles. She couldn't fight them. She

past Carl, Justin

mercy. She looked at him with a gaze of such profound,

ooked away, staring at the wall, trying to suppress the

ght door that led to the basement stairs. The cold, damp air from the cellar drifted u