oth, yet laced with mockery, and it sent a chill down Valerie's s

he man she had once loved so deeply, standing

ossessive, his eyes scanning

h contempt. "Thank God I saw through you in time and chose Lacey inst

g ball. Disbelief washed over her as she stared at the man she had once thought of as hers. Her mi

aned into him, her tone dripping with false concern. "It was just a mistake made in the heat of the

told a different story. Lacey's gaze sparkled with smug satisfactio

ng forward with exaggerated

red on her face. She hesitated, eyes flicking toward the rumpled bed, pretending to be too shy to say more

t their clasped hands. Her chest tightened painfully, as eve

icked int

unusually soft tone as he invited her to

se? Sending her to

's face, her body quaking with

tidal wave-Javier and Lac

ile now standing before her, pretending to be innocent. Ac

y this easy to manipulate? T

side her, rising with every seco

g on Lacey, who still stood smugl

nd shooting out like lightning. She grabbed Lac

A

cey's face twisted in shock and pain as

What did

your mind? How could you

he shock and urgency ri

around her in a protective embrace, shielding

d, his anger melting into worry

arms, her voice trembling

fine. I shouldn't hav

nothing but rage. It was as though he was staring at an enemy, not his daughte

ice a whip crack. "Apologize

htness in her chest twisting into something darker. A bitter laugh

laced with venom. "My mother has only one daug

p forward, her disgust clear. "You threw me and my mother out for this pat

aig's arms. "No matter how much pain she's in, it's nothing