ienne'

y chest as I sat inside the car, wat

rred as tears

.. I had never se

ion. That quiet pa

lways been calm. D

ntless times that it w

ly did not kn

w I und

id kn

never c

car without even glan

they woul

would

eady someone he ha

ng after they disa

I drov

lo

um

or dinner?" Maggie asked gentl

when she s

not a

the bedroom and clos

as alone, every

gainst the door as

e after another, until I could

much it felt like

childhood flashed

oken

ss arg

nce after my p

s that followe

ed my fis

t my child to

aby to grow up

th

secu

t n

know if I could

ck came fro

is ready," Maggi

replied, my voic

face, I suddenly r

Alexander

closet and open

found a s

favorit

ry R

bled slightly as

not ex

meant so

o

t close t

armth spread through t

... he re

here in his mind

asleep with that sma

ning, I woke

beside me felt

quietly, st

spent the n

hurt more tha

, the doo

der wal

moment,

lief rose in my chest

well," he said, f

loser and sa

you

mmediately an

m fi

at me, no

wrong? Ta

art tr

many things I

t want th

oved

gnant with

that

mean s

ll care, ev

ned my

ore I co

," he said calmly, "you

ely on me l

tightened

had been holding

aid softly, forc

ownstairs aft

ed me for

distant from me even before

my head

said

of displeasure

force you,

turned

door

silence

isappeared

he look

ause Isabel

nted to end ev

to smil

t felt

inf

terprises, my assistan

, Lena Ashford's ag

wned s

our brand

ad already be

ed up t

agent's angry voice exp

informing us? Do you know

maine

nderstanding. Lena is

we were told," t

ompany already confir

l ended

ession d

y knew wh

ia Re

porate Communications departm

o Lena Ashford's co

lazily, a mocking

finally f

Alexander," I said coldly. "Y

aughed

think you got that positi

nds cl

h your

t?" she

limbed your way up. Using

ayed

lding myse

n she sp

thi

tioned m

g inside

alized it, m

la

oed sharply ac

yone

ead turned

d her cheek, eyes

ed, her voice tre

e laughe

ur father. No

t wa

d my han

ore it c

grabbed

rip wa

ield

dy sti

rned

Alexand

office fell