dia

n my phone screen. The first installment of my fee, his assistant had informe

sted in advance from Hart James, so

t all. He only provided me with the basic necessities for daily life. At t

d of heading home, I drove towar

rist and bought a bouquet of s

Her face lit up when she saw me. "Cordia, my love!

t the right time to reveal the truth. I'm afra

flowers in the vase on her bedside table. "He had a

ed like ash

my face with a mother's worry. "You look thin. Are

ng some time off to be with you. I've cleared my schedu

ilt. "Oh, my sweet girl. You shouldn't have. Wh

e quiet room. "He insisted. He said your health is the most important thing

g methodically sliced along with the apple. Donavon hadn't sent so much

eaming. "He's a good man, Cordia.

owed as I focused on the apple, hid

gently shoo me out. As I was le

all velvet box from under her pillow. "I was going to sav

ir of delicate pearl earrings. My grandmother's. A family heirloom,

n holding back fi

r voice tight with alarm. "You don't li

ng another smile. "They're beautiful, Mom. I

silent, wracking sobs. I couldn't tell her. I couldn't tell her

velvet box again. The pearls glowed with a

my mother, for the hope these earr

and sent a text to

id Donavon get the resign

now it was fi

came a few m

that you are currently very upset because of Ms. Burns, but I have already asked Donavon about her situation. He said that those reports by the media are simply false and baseless. As

, a sense of dizzying a

dn't