l. It didn't take her back to the penthouse in the city; it drove east, tow

of suffocation settled over her. The house, a grand old mansion of brick and

red Chloe a cashmere shawl with a polite, practiced smile, but her e

an was waiting for her under the portico. He was wearing a perfe

ulling her close. His touch was proprietary, his fingers

nto her ear, his voice a silken

sofa, a porcelain teacup in her hand. Her sharp, intelligent eyes missed nothing. They swept over

commanding. She rose, leaning on a silver-handled cane, and took

Julian, a desperate, pleading look in

working too hard, Grandmother," he said, his voice rich with feigned affe

is grandmother, but the cold pressure of his lips felt like a brand, a mark

her cane on the marble floor. "You need to take b

ling. The fingers at Chloe's waist squeeze

under the guise of letting her rest and change. The moment the

her shoulders, forcing her to look at her own reflection in the

If my grandmother finds out you couldn't even keep a child safe, she will initiate a board vote to remove me, and she will throw you out

hing. She felt trapped, silenced. She closed her eyes, unable to look at

l, expensive pot of blush. He tossed it onto the vanity. "Now f

an to apply color to her pale cheeks. It fel

gany table was laden with food, but the scent of roaste

urce of warmth in the room. She kept insisting the staff

her with open contempt. "Honestly," Serena said with a loud

om his steak. He said no

or said sharply. Serena fell si

xed with a profound sadness. This kindness was bu

ugh the French doors as his grandmother held Chloe's hand, chatting animatedly. He watched