wood Manor passed

left the hospital. Perhaps he understood there were no words that could make any of this easier. Or he had simply

aw a pair of towering wrought-iron gates w

tely. They weren't dressed like ordinary guards. Their

river's window before the gates

nd of family needed

driveway led toward the manor. White camellias li

ered on them until something inside me tightened. Be

r. It wasn't the glittering glass mansion I'd im

ray stone walls, towering pillars and a

y. The entire estate was so silent that

first and opened m

elled faintly of flowers and my eyes

re beau

a bit but he said nothing. Before either of us reach

ing a silver tray. She took one look at

orcelain shattered across the ground. I bl

er eyes, widened lightly. They filled so qui

Oh

startled by her ow

knelt to gather the broken pieces. "You

eat, her lips trembling as though s

ear, d

the porcelain and our hands almost touched. She fro

ntly. "I should be t

turned away and dabbed the corner

smile appeared on her face, though it didn

clined her head politely. "Welcom

side. "If you'

aking. It had high ceilings, crystal chandeliers hung from carve

didn't feel like a home. It felt

inside, a familiar s

ic

i

i

n enormous grandfather clock. For reaso

er been he

ad

'd stopped. "Is someth

s away from th

I just thought I'd heard t

ng flashed across her face and

od there for

llowed, though the strange f

oom where warm sunlight spilled

ce. His white hair was neatly combed and a walking cane reste

red and his gaze lingered on my face for

yes gl

r...welc

st realized what he'd said. A faint

Forgi

gain, gentl

to Blackwo

y put me at ease. He walked tow

thur Bla

d me of evenings spent listening to

eting under such unfo

once. "Th

rying to underst

ll smile. "I'm

For one impossible moment, I had the over

gain. "We'll make sure you'r

choed from the staircase. Mrs. Harper strai

kwood turned towa

d shoulders. He wore dark gloves and his legendary

ch that looked strangely out of place co

le step. When he reached the fin

d beside him and a slow breath

across his face vanished and hi

is Blackwood. The man e

rangers but it felt li

ard the staircase. He stopped beside Adonis and looked at him but he never looked back at him. His

t in a high-backed chair opposite the fireplace and didn't offer any

e instead of where Adonis now sat. "Miss Hart.

house?" He asked in a

tep forward. "M

ntinue. I walked forward and placed the leather folder onto

through the silver mask. "Why would you

answer.Neither did Daniel. Only t

I hated the slight shake in my voi

taken on his debts and you'

ying me?" I could feel Daniel gaze on me. "I have nothi

e beautiful and from families that haven't been destroyed." I p

Adonis hadn't moved once since I began speaking. I hated the

rd and spoke. "That isn

want the reason..." His voice rem

snapped. Hot tears b

into fist. I refused t

ssfully blinking back tears. "If you won't t

Maybe I'd imagined it, but for the briefest second, something l

s mouth and close it. I kept my face toget

nied it. I drew one slow breath and co

ightened. "...the two of you can di

feet. He was even taller than I'd imagined up close

here was no crack in his v

oward Danie

ackwood...." "I'm giving Mi

esitated.

round the table, past me and stopped just behind my shoulder. I

urs..." he waited, "...you still wish to refuse this marria

ly hope..." My fingers tightened instinctively