oothed his expression back into one of paternal kindness.

. Eliana knew she h

e, identical to the one she'd been given, placed there for show. She quickly swapped them. Sh

aw the one on the table and suspected nothing.

other hand, she quietly picked up the drugged gla

was bored, scrolling through her phone. A young waiter

iness. She stumbled out of her room, clutching the

weakly against the wall. "I do

sed. He put an arm around her to "steady" her, intending to gui

flushed face and unsteady steps. A vicious smile tou

ed," lurching directly into t

teady it, her movements were a blur. In a single, fluid motion, she

an instant. N

os, before continuing her weak shuffl

nged a triumphant look. Ev

She impatiently snatched a glass of red wine from

owed the potent dr

l, the cold night air a welcome shock to h

n erupted from the f

ike a dark god, several men in suits

the men squarely in the chest, his voice low but leth

ked onto the estate where Branson's birthday banquet was being

he night from inside the house, fo

se and was tearing at her own expensi

d Melinda, their faces a mixture of fury and

on. He frowned, his gaze

found the sliver of white dres

'd been seen. H

alt with the kneeling men. Then, with long, deliberate

r her, a tow

ce a low rumble, "you always