n the city's outskirts. Chloe stepped out into the

hantom, telling no one her destination. She

dstone. CATHERINE SINCLAIR. BELOVED MOTHER. The s

s her fingers traced the letters. "I'm leaving the cage

tect her. She had surrendered her freedom, her skills, her identity-the operative know

nched on the p

d by years of training and newly awakened

ture shifting into

t of roses in his hand. His face w

ver her. She hadn't told

he was. To Julian, she wasn't a wif

, then stepped close, wrapping his arms around her

perly yesterday?" he murmured into her hair, his tone dripping with paternal patie

ife to her mother's grave to offer comfort. Anyone watching would

ody go limp, leaning into his embrace as if she needed his strength to stand.

g his pet. "But it's all in the past. Look how

, overwrite her reality with his own.

olished lens, and for the first time, she

u on edge, too," he continued, his voice smooth. "Don't waste

for her sadness, a box to put her d

of her cheek to suppress a

of short sells on Carlisle holdings, executed through a shell corporati

didn't love her, but he coveted the "Mrs. Carlisle" brand.

yers and PR sharks. He would paint her as a hysterical addict. He

fight him hea

im believe she wa

is jaw. Her eyes were wide, swimming with a look of dependence. "I'm sorry, Julian

. The tension in his shoulders mel

ce with a possessive hand. "Let's go home. I'

compliance. But behind her

e wheel of the Tesla. Chloe sat in the passenge

ted app, from the butler at the estate-a

age was

ac

settled like ice in her gut. She d

ple, too naive. To get what was hers, to save her son, and to aveng

She needed leverage

eded t

now, his voice commanding as he barked instructions at

s ruin was sitting right next to him, wearing h

devoted wife to perfection. And she would bur