. She pushed herself off the floor and walked into the bathroom, staring at the stranger in

again and again, the shock of the cold a welcome distraction. It was

ouldn't afford. She had t

through the contacts until they landed on the

'Liv' S

ul voice came through. "Ella! How was th

and carefree, broke the dam of her compos

hed, replaced by sharp concern. "Whoa

ed champagne, the stranger, the public shaming by Annette and C

f curses that would have made a sailor blush. "That conniving bitch! And y

he freezing cold of Ella's despair

ice tight. "Are you really going to marry some f

he words scraping her raw throat. "Warren

defect, was her entire world. His treatments were astronomically expensive, and her father

line. "Okay," she said finally, her voice low and serious. "Okay, this isn'

," Ella said, shame coloring her

er. "Listen to me. This is going to sound crazy

d. "What are you

es, Ella. A surgery

of a physical blow. Hymenoplasty. Th

ve of revulsion washing over her

he brink. "This is about survival. This is about taking back what they stole from you. If

r mother's face, heard her father's cold dismissal, pictured Chloe's

ugly, last-ditch pla

, her decision made.

ss tower overlooking Central P

lished obsidian desk. "We have her, sir. The woman from l

at some society event, looked back at him. The same defiant chin, the same stormy eyes. So, the little

ontact, we learned she just made an appointment. An urgent one, for t

copy of the appointment details. Donovan's eyes scanned

nopl

e froze, then curdled into

patch herself up and present h

r eyes. A possessive, primal anger surged through

d, his voice a low whisper that was more menac