ericano, black, no sugar. It was

caught a whiff of the roasted espresso and her stomach turned. She lift

s, her smile warm and polite. "You look pal

her gaze squarely. "And if I were?

was joking. I know you can't be. Lu

the rim. Stella stared at her, her voice low and flat. "So you invited

s from Rome. Someone blackmailed me with them. He demanded ten million dollars and said he had video too. I pai

ose photos to every word out of your mouth ri

. "I'm not provoking you, I swear. Everyone thinks I dumped Luc after col

Rhodes respects Luc's choices mor

I was born unable to have children. Luc is the sole heir to the Rhodes fort

u're the most suitable wife he could ask for, and that he'll give you the title and a family. I do

htened around her

asking for a title! I just want to stay beside him quietly. Please

id sh

m begging y

he rest of her lemon water

ing as water dripped

"You want me to bless your affair? With wha

her face, her

sentence," Stella said, picking up her purse. "If you really have that hold on him, tell Lucian to call off

to walk pas

d up from her seat and gra

hoved her with everything she had, aiming her st

hips at the last second to miss the wood, and planted her heel. Pivotin

gh the quiet café at the exact moment

les

ed and looked

doorway, the high back of the booth would have hidden Celeste's shov

looked at the red print blooming on Celeste's wet fa

yourself,

tick onto her mouth two hours ago. Her lips

regardless of the reason."

N

ell

tears mixing with the lemon water on her cheeks. "It's my fault. I said t

d back, and he

before she hit the

his arms and turned toward the door without a

e pulled out his phone

ry another woman out into the street. She didn't loo

Your

d hesitantly, holding out a sta

hand. A clean, three-inch gash was welling w

tile was a tiny, razor-thin craft blade, stained red at the tip. C

ked it into her purse, and stood up. She pressed a

ve cameras