behind her. The click of the

. Her legs gave out, and she slid down the smooth wood of the

he cruel sum that was meant to erase her. Then, with a shaky breath, she smoothed it flat and tucked it carefully into the inner pocket of

around a small, crisp envelope. She pulled out the ultrasoun

ba

n stupidity, for the love she had wasted. Tears for this innoce

mphant smirk, burned in her mind. The grief curdle

ipped the ultrasound report to shreds. The pieces fluttered t

er voice raw. "I will protect you. And we will ha

her soul, hard and

hers: clothes Julian had never bought her, books from her college days, a small, framed photo of her and her brother, A

ck came at

ass of warm milk on a small tray. Her eyes

ave this and rest. He has arranged for

, her body ached. She took the glass without a word and dr

limbs felt like lead. She stumbled towards the bed, her mind foggy, and collapsed ont

na's face peering in from the doorway. The housekeeper

etallic click of a key turning

ss too

nsation in her throat. H

that sent daggers of pain through her c

es fle

i

up the silk curtains, devouring them with a hungry roar. Blac

sting the handle. It didn't budge. She threw her s

ized her. This wasn't an

icking her out. The

, drowning out the fear. The primal, feroci

here. Her baby w

ody. Then she seized a heavy armchair, adrenaline flooding her system

utwards in a shower

. The fire surged, a beast unleashed. It was

hing her skin. The flames were

makeshift shield. She climbed onto the wide windowsill, her heart hammering against her ribs. Her pur

ooked down at the har

ng her body instinctiv

ears. Sharp, searing agony shot up her leg. Glass from the shatte

ding screaming. But she was alive. Her purse was s

gnoring the waves of ago

just escaped. It was now a raging inf

en, just beyond the reach of t

ny Ho

hloe could see the cold, s

d hotter than the flames surged thro

ill come back. And

om the burning mansion, away from the life that had been stolen from her.

nto the darkne

tate. The former Mrs. Carlisle, Chloe Turner, was declared dead. Her