hen strode past her without a glan

hadn't noticed her or had

is arms, her face instantly rec

as Val

out of the hospital, eac

aze, numb from

he driver aske

estion, yet it l

rest Estate. That villa might n

finally answered, "Azu

ought in her own nam

mother living there one day. It was

stood. He'd offered to buy her a

ave been the only right de

small park out front, letting the cold air w

n her mind, the sweet mom

seven hundred da

coldest heart could be thawed

hter echoing in her ears, telling her it ha

ght when Elianna fi

ut of the elevator, she

ne, revealing the elegant line of his neck and the sharp angle of his collarbo

na fr

t the hospital with Valeri

one arm, his other hand tucked loosely in his

you answer

were shadowed with fatigue, and a shar

r phone and saw i

calls, all f

rs, this w

her so many time

have soared at the sight and

into her bag, leaned against the wall, and

s watch, his voice tight with impatience.

empty house. When he couldn't find Elianna, he'd gone so far a

ould come to Azure Apar

g. Let's go." Cayden turned and walked towa

to follow him bac

Elianna felt a pang of

now o

ven have a

aw her still standing there. "Are

fined under the motion-sensor li

h and met his gaze. "Cayd

d you ju

rning cold. A shadow cross

n, we won't have any

but a sharp, unrelenting

tions

smirk. "Elianna, what kind of r

e her breath cat

act marriage. No feelings, just an arrangement. To the rest

eligible bachelor, the man every

ere a clear warning, as if he fea

er throat. "You're right, Mr. Evans. My mistake. Take care

an to burn, and she fought

broken? This was the man s

was, she had to

herself become

ight flickered, casting the

sing into a hard line. His entire pos

asional moods, but this-t

lint of tears in her eyes. His voice sof

o do with her. Go

he only thing stan

imply moved past him

nce grate

tration, then closed the dis

oug

ant, he spun her around by the shoul

against him, as if he w

ave a

a sagged against him, her le

em crackled with a

his face so close it felt as if

When she registered their intimacy, she instinctively

d her waist, pulling her flush against him. "Why are yo

d. Before she could react,

sitation, he started

h fever, Elianna murmur

pened. "Taking you

N

fog of her fever cleari

the tiny life inside

ll hers. As long as it was inside her, she

his grip was unyielding. His arms were lik

He ignored her struggles, his to

t hammered in her chest. She grabbed his arm in despe