cut through

heard it, the unmistakabl

sion cold and unmoving, and the whole

His voice stayed low, but i

bent the wrong way. The sear

her mother

e moment Kellan's eyes locked on him

ars sliding down her face without

etter than to let any trace of hat

d asked, her tone perfectly poli

x-fiancé answered her o

dared to confront him. They choked down thei

anic, something cold settled

ng the look on her face. "How long

nt before turning

t his hand. "L

ins as usual. Instead, Kellan openly shielded her. The guests left behind wat

and into Kellan's. Then she walked out of the ballr

ling glances at Kellan, wanting to ask why he'd h

d off to the bedroom without a wor

ing real to begin with, so there was

She stared at the screen for a

gy. Her career depends on those hands. How could you hurt her? And don't think the Millers make you unt

out loud. There might have been a time when this woul

this call had r

d her like she belonged in that family. Blood was the only tie she had to them, and

ening? I'm your mother. We brought you back, tried to rais

er irritation. Rather than argue, she swi

ne with my mom," she called

e even warmer than before. "You're making us dinne

her whole tone had shifted. "You should've mentioned Kellan

tossed her phone onto the c

something comfortable an

calm lines of her face as she lost herself in the pages

g her for a while before h

teps. The second she saw who it was, she smoothed o

she was holding. "Not many people

nking twice, forgetting that everything in the room tech

tucked into the far corner of the room. The bedroom was large en

eping areas, so she watched with curiosity as he

n front of her, she cou

ly-priceless first editions

read," Kellan said, his voice low an