t surprised him. A flicker of something that might have

t by blood, the true heir, a fact discovered when she was eighteen. A hospital mix-up, they'd called it. The daughter of the

n had already been spent, lavished on the fragile, perpetually ill Isabelle. Stella was a comm

aumonts were not her sanct

g patronizing. "Stella, don't be impulsive. Once Isabelle is settled, I'l

er cold fury. She turned her back on him and

hed with you!" he ro

g the heavy door open and steppi

their eyes, filled with smug curiosity, followed her every move. One of them, a

ntract can chain a man

oung woman with the force of a physical blow. She walked ove

hey're now accepting common gossips," Stella said, her voice quiet bu

d her mouth to protest, but the words died in her thr

e doors slid open, and she stepped inside. Just as they began to close, she saw

to the ground floor. When the

le Bea

bby, a vision in a flowing white dress, her fa

ise, her hand fluttering to her

arm in a show of sisterly affection. Stella shif

face before being replaced by her

as if it were a holy relic. "He's been working so hard lately." The implicat

as flat. "Working so hard he need

her face. "You must have m

ff. "I'm not interested in

er voice dropping to a hiss. "He's mine, Stella. You couldn't

th open contempt. "Don't worry. I wouldn't want your sloppy seconds. He's all

e. She trembled, pointing a finger

ly turned and walked toward the revolving

a piercing shriek ripped t