ed library. Her hand shook slightly as

k echoed in the quiet room. No one, esp

yes. A single tear, heavy with the residual grief for the un

it away. Her exp

er of the room. She sat down in Julian's leather ch

lockbox. It contained her pre-ma

d flashed back to the freezing delivery room. She saw Julian's

box clic

tan penthouses and the Hamptons es

She made mental notes of which properties Julian had sec

sounded at th

the hallway. "Cordelia said she had a migraine earlier. I brewed

crinkling the thick paper. She suppressed a violent urge to

t the locked door. She refused to give the

lway was quiet f

crash shatter

orcelain teacup. It shattered l

dramatic gasp. She imm

uickly approached

g out, laced with deep concern. He comp

ust trying to be nice to Cordelia. I

ggressively on t

r," Julian demanded. "St

he lockbox. She locked it and shoved it back int

. She unlocked it and

ady to pound on the wood again

the spilled tea staining the floor. Then, she shif

n scolded. His jaw was tight. "You are

sses, Julian," Cordelia cut him off mid-

glass with her designer heels. She

grip was tight. His eyes searched hers, desp

nd gripping her navy sleeve. A wave

m free with a sha

a said. "The smell on you

rejection and the venomous, unyielding disgust in her eyes. He had just come from the priv

ly. She realized Cordelia was not playing

d walked toward th

ossed casually over her shoulder.

e hallway, staring at her ba