ment abrupt. The air in the luxury hospital suite had b

ly strained as she addressed Eleanor. "

e. He remained by his mother's side for a moment longer, his eyes scanning the m

wall, the chill seeping through the thin cashmere of her dress. She closed he

n again. It wasn't S

ound echoing in the silence. She cornered Cayla against the wall, crossing her arm

't get comfortable. My brother only married you to secure the medical trust before the annu

was churning inside her. "If you have a problem with your brother's marriage," she

ying and suffocating. "Oh, I will," she whispered. "But you should know. Serena is the only wom

urious aura instantly silenced Lola's taunts. He didn't even lo

ife," he said, his voice dangerous

iance. She flipped her long, blonde hair over her shoulde

pression still hard. He reached

en burned. The last thing she wanted right now

oward the private elevator at the end of the hall, h

strides easily catching up. He stepped into the elevator just as the

as a physical thing, thick

angry tears. "Tell me the truth," she demanded, her

mpenetrable mask. "I don't owe yo

collateral damage in your twisted, pathetic love life, and you don't owe me an exp

liding open to a dimly lit, cave

ou should have just married her!" she yelled, her voice raw. "If sh

spun her around and pinned her back against

sting over her lips. "Stop talking about her," he growled, hi

Are you afraid I'll tarnish her sacred memory? I wan

is eyes wild with a terrifying mixture of anger and so

e snarled, his control completely gone. "You belo

spital bills," she shot back, her voice dripping

g a frustrated, trembling hand through his perfectly styled hair, messing it up for the first time

k slammed ba

nce again devoid of all emotion, the argu

She yanked open the passenger door of the SUV and threw herself in