you to touc

ry. Chloe looked up from the leather-bound book in her hand. Between her fingers was a faded photograph found in a book-y

roughly drunk. He snatched the photo fr

s steady. She didn't want him to see how thin and cold the air in the r

ed like poison to him. "You and my mothe

ous truth that it struck her composure. S

. Ava blackmails her with info

He stared at her, and the drunken haze

iless. "Pay her to marry a bankrupt European duke to keep ou

s the foundation of his resentment and the reason for his cruel act

choing high above the ceiling.

whisky is so intense it can be suffocating. He s

t to make her

rning pain throbbed in her lower abdomen. She tried

top......

of hatred, chilling to the bone. "Are you

In his struggle, his anger reached its peak.

all by only three short steps. Her body tilted, losing her balance. As she fell, time seem

lling up between her legs-a terrifying sensation that obscured everythi

nger fueled by alcohol faded from his face, but i

l for help. He simply looked down at he

best. This child sim

re the darkness consumed her, the last thing

years

windows of the top office of the Carlisle Enterprise

et elegant bun. Her makeup is impeccable, and her gaze is sharp. The helpless

e door. Her assistant Elizabet

ts about Mr. Carlisle's latest pa

d a young, beautiful socialite. They were laughing heartily. Chloe's expression showed no change at all. Over the past

photos with a professi

k, her voice calm and steady. "I don't want

ain drifted out the window to the city. In an i

red. The doctor gave her devastating news-and then, a miracle happened. Sh

with her life. A secret Jul