slowly clawed its way

che in her head. The second was the sharp, pinching sens

. A pristine white ceiling and so

iseptic filled her lungs, barely masked b

ightstand beside her bed sat a plastic cup

cked open just an inch. The hushed, ur

erfectly still, straining her e

. "Did you see the front page of

could I miss it? Mrs. Carlisle threw an

he is completely deranged over Carter Vanderbil

chest tighten painfully. Her fingers automatically curled, gr

detailed how Aria had stalked Carter and

y for Julian Carlisle. Being married to a disaster lik

ng the nurses' gossip together with the

ing blanket. To the entire world, she was a hysterical, malic

ly by a hot flash of rage. She wasn't angry at the nurses. She was

. She pushed her wei

er lips. The metal bed

ide the door st

alked in, a tight, professional smile plastered ac

. She tapped the IV bag, checking th

renda said, her tone flat and di

t in the nurse's eyes. She swallowed ha

ed. Her voice was hoars

ube. She clearly expected the notorious Mrs.

o a rigid, business-like tone. "Your husband

ade Aria's stomach t

She didn't demand to see Cart

lm reaction. Without another word, she turn

. She reached over and ripped the glowi

stretched her arm out and grabbed th

er was obvious. It was a message from her husband. A reminder of t

inition photo showed her face twisted in a snarl, her hand raised

shed the newspaper in her hands, twisting the paper until

She had to find a w