ie was escorted to the

oom," the butler said, his

rand halls devoid of life, with onl

d corner of the house, far removed from the heart of the

f the universe here. Everyone had clamored for his

se, most of those so-called fr

vegetative state, but he feared something even more-Jonathan's recovery. If Jonathan

s treated as nothing more than an a

, with its vast wealth and intricate web of connections, was like a maze of hidde

onathan's

a deep, authoritative

a middle-aged man s

his posture commanding. His stern express

or a moment, a flicker of

wn family to send someone so striki

ce, Valerie hadn't faltered. Her composu

in a clipped tone. "Since you're here, you'll be responsible for taking care of Jonathan. The Holt family doesn't

fened at the cold au

e here, tethered to a man she barel

h the grand, quiet halls of the estate,

arded, with several bodyguards in blac

ebrow but wasn't par

become a battleground, with many eyeing the

crash had set the

m of top medical experts from around the world, all dedicated to saving the man who had, in j

e felt a surge of curiosity. What kind of man

-made bed sat by the floor-to-ceiling windows, slightly ele

igure on the bed. Jonathan Holt's face

lpted features-the long, thick lashes casting shadows on his pal

out of a painting, an ima

aken him for a work of art rather than a livin

now nothing more than a fragile fig

ped her lips, ti

his tone clipped and cold. His sharp eyes flicked over Valerie's face, catching the slightest ch

if daring her to show weakness. His words carried an undercurrent o

didn't

foot in the Holt residence. The disdain, the criticism-it was