for Tatum to pull off an impossible miracle. She left a short, sincere note of gratitude for Maria and

mother's favorite bloom-and boarded the subway bound for the hospital. The crowded, clamoring tr

steadily across the city's transit system map on his private sc

yes has left

. He had anticipated this move. This hospital visit would strip away her last shreds

ir. Elara found her mother, Eleanor Hayes, seated in a worn chair by the window, her

ker of recognition brightened her eyes for a flee

voice thin and fragile. "Is your f

ther had passed away more than a year prior, yet her mo

kruptcy had drastically accelerated Eleanor's cognitive decline. Her memory was rapidly deteriorating, and her condition would only worsen without professional, round-the-clock ca

from Elara's lungs. It was an astronomical sum, fa

frail, diminished woman who had once been vibrant, warm, and full of life. Every trace of stubborn pride, every lingering hesita

ure anything. She would walk

id urban air slapping her cheeks, her phone rang. It was Tatu

or to a business associate with deep ties to the Carlisle family. I basically traded every favor I had to

a shaky, deep breath. "Thank yo

receiving a final update. "Sir, Tatum Knight has formally secured and printe

e for the couture gown. Deliver it to Tatum's West Village apartment. Use the untraceable anonymous offsho

invitation like a precious relic-a thick cream card embossed with gleaming gold lettering, official and

y favorite fighter-your armor for the night. A luxury designer I've worked with reached out to me out of the blue. He's looking t

y, studded with thousands of tiny, shimmering crystals that glinted like scattered stars. It was the most exquisite garment she had ever laid eyes on

t sky. The Carlisle estate was no mere mansion-it was a sprawling stone castle, illum

er heart thundered frantically again

g breath and stepped out of the vehicle. She was walking forward, straight in

kissed midnight blue gown step out of the car, radiant and ethereal, like a fallen star descended to earth. A dark, possessive, tri