seen. It was a look that said he owned her, body and soul.

ords, her voice a near-whisper. The tremo

a single point of pure, incandescent rage. Her g

eached for her again, still believing he could calm her with a

ingers brushed h

ration and a moment of ultimate betrayal. She swung her arm, putti

his cheek was a sharp, clean crack tha

ittering across the marble floor. A bright red handprint bloomed on

ief. In three years, she had never

ting a satisfying counterpoi

shaking but clear, "was fo

door, ankle be damned, and never look back. She would leave thi

nto a dark, ugly fury. He grabbed her arm, his fingers diggin

?" he snarled, his face twisted into a

th was overwhelming. He held her fast, his han

she cried, twist

ggle that a sharp, imperious voice cu

n God's name are

e, turning tow

ed impeccably in a designer pantsuit, shopping bags from Bergdorf's hanging from her arm. Her perfectl

t, a surge of despera

. Her gaze landed on the red mark on Julian's face, and her

he contents spilling onto the fl

Her voice was a high-pitched flutter of panic

just stared at Elara,

ury. "Elara! Have you lost your mind? How dare you l

ask what happened. She didn't see the bruises forming on her daughter's arm from Jul

to someone else!" Elara's voice c

ent, more annoyed. "I know about the engagement. It's for the good

rayal, a knife twisting in a wound

to learn to endure a little unpleasantness," Sharon said, her voi

ctly manicured nails, her expensive clothes, the cold, calculating look in he

gle-it was all too much. Her injured ankle screamed in protest.

lecture about duty and gratitude and not maki

id, her voice sharp with warning. "Juliana and her family. I