ollowed Clara's wo

grip steady, but I felt the

id quietly. "Clara feeds on

d sound that echoed

tecting your little se

ard, his expression un

t never reached her eyes. "Ask your

s voice hardened.

lazing eyes followed our every step, while Alexander watc

Clara's words followed me

t was Dami

warning affect

-

ned the door, and I slid inside. Damian followed, s

filled

er dinner at Noir. It was heavy, uncomfortable, and

window as the city

I turned

tell me what Clara

t mine, and for a moment, I saw somethin

t disa

he fact that you're slowly running

struck me

ha

ed at you." His voice was cold and controlled. "You claim you want

accusing me of running back to him when you'r

hiding

rds make you flinch? Why

was prote

hat? Th

posure

coming, and you have no idea wha

at him in

lexander pay for what he did. But this isn't just about th

ce me fully. "You think I'm obs

hink you married me to get closer to him. And I think

e I had met him, Damian

rned

't tel

't, or y

ot

e his apartment buildi

building something together. But you're just like Alexander. Y

n fli

le

re hiding, figure it out before you come b

ed toward the building

-

door and leaned against it,

rusted

let another man make a fool of me. Yet here I was again

d said about my ey

xander with somethi

humiliated me, and discarded me as though our marr

uestion refuse t

ly because I wanted the truth, or because I had begun to beli

t know

-

er Sterling sat in his off

dline s

STERLING ENGAGED TO RIVAL B

en times. Each time,

was en

ian Bl

al. His

d around the paper,

had signed the papers.

nd resting in Damian's, her smile directed at another

agined it would

d Clara walked in w

ing, d

r didn't

e me

and perched on the

g over you. At the gala, she looked absolutely radian

r's jaw

nothing

head. "Then why have you bee

ed up s

Damian is using h

at you tell

the

the truth, Alexander. And it

want to

d for the door, paus

lying to yourself, let me

osing the do

tograph again. Her eyes sparkled wit

nd tre

owl, he tore the

-

stairs to find Damian already

hite shirt, quietly reviewi

said, taking the

morn

oke. Then he set the tablet as

y. "I shouldn't have spoken

luttered at

enever he hurt me, he always found an ex

about one thing. I haven't completely figured out my feelin

e before offerin

lena. You deserve the truth, and I promis

answer did little t

a stack of documents. Damian began reviewing them, discuss

tening to words I

ars arranging dinners, attending social events, and making sure his home was perfect. I

onder what I might have become

more to me than be

denly clos

to be ready by eigh

Why? Where a

introducing you to

dropped

fice? To

working

, certain I had

rporate office before. I don't kno

his silver eye

s time yo

t began

ld I had never known-and I had no