never a

sed and turned in bed,

er the sound of rain started ta

aight back to the time s

had been full of reports about

im had played repea

n Sdrolen last year. Was that relationship alre

resembled the Derek Rylie had

nt in a way that made him a

, there was no warmth in his voice. "

ck to Sdrolen t

went straight to the apartment she had been r

he had found her. What sta

el as if he wanted to wipe the

tell whether she had felt m

ed every word he

would want you when you look like that? Even your own mother didn't want you. Do you have any idea how much you've

's apartment in her hand, desperate t

ek

ut. All she could do was stand the

ning had beg

the nightmare. Morning had already come, and t

hadn't sent a

, unable to decide whether De

e felt, she still had

essed and left

ew, and by the time she returned home, she wasn't

elling him she was sick, then took a cab to the hospital because

.

iends who were discussing a property development project involv

al years ago, he had redirected most of the Cooper family's business toward investme

y on entertainment, and technology wa

sion. He only half listened to the conversation abou

anned to interfere in

dating someone didn't aut

, something about the sit

became, the more compli

mply weren't righ

e had once told him about her fir

called her firs

to understand what Ryli

ometimes. The important thing

long the way, he had quietly decided how Braden's relationship should come to an end. A fain

given it

weakness for cheap

eminded him of

tch the eye, but wo

elet had already gone dull. A s

o the house where Ry

Derek had received th

below, he slowly rolled the faded gold bead between his fingers.

hanged on

stant opened the door an

ma's sick, and they're at the hospital.

already had their

hen an image of Allison suddenly crossed his mind. She had b

coat. "Have the c