r behind her. She moved with a purpose she hadn't felt in years

ed in, carrying a sleeping Chloe in his arms. Katlin followed close

ked up at th

ehind Aidan, a perfect pic

, snagged for a fraction of a second on the angry red welt on her cheek and the fresh scratche

kes him feel that she doesn't care about him, respect him or the Beaumont family. Beau

d, his voice low and dange

a momentary height advantage. She looked down at th

trash. Isn't that what you wanted?" She gestured vaguely back towards the master suit

as hovering nervously by the door. The old man flinched. "I... M

spered, her voice trembling. "She needs to sleep with us. I didn't mean... I

nt, so pathetic, it

arms and turned his cold gaze back to Beryl. "They're just clothes. I'll hav

st profound insult he could have delivered. He thought he could pu

"You don't get it, do you? Keep your

down the s

ircase, blocking her path. The sheer size of him, the oppressive weight of his pr

w,not

had my assistant arrange a penthouse for you at The Pierre. Overlooking the park. It's yours. Just... stay there

her away neatly in a gilded box whe

y much. He doesn't want to go against his grandfather's wishes and make him unhappy. Oth

the man whose life she had prayed for, and f

h sarcasm. "But I don't want your penthouse. I don't want your

mask of civility crumbling. "I told you, my

papers, but his grandfather doe

likes Katlin and her daughter, h

enged, meeting his g

st like a manacle. "Don't play these games. The Bea

sudden movement pulled the zipper of her backpack open. A

ck novel. A tu

, grey cas

htly. He had seen her knitting it, night after night . At that time, he just woke up a few days ago a

mall, choked cough came from behind

o the woman who needed him, the

of lint and went to Katlin's side, his voice l

he step. All those hours. All that h

nd without a second thought, t

see that the bed had been remade with new, deep red silk sheets. On the nightstand

lanning a c

e bedroom door shut from across the hall with a res

, his face a thun

d the scarf into the ornate trash receptacle by the door,

ing after her, holding out an

away gently. "I do

A gust of cold, wet wind hit her fac

back, letting the door swing shut on the suff