that, paradoxically, only made people feel th

scene unfold before her with mounting tension. The prestigious Hewitt family - t

ho committed murder to stand before their victim with suc

leaving her unable to walk. What more could I possibly owe her?" Her eyes glinted dangerously.

w can you speak so callously? Your reckless actions caused Carrie unimaginable s

Miss Willis wouldn't dare swear an oath that her suf

gile demeanor and carefully crafted display of hurt seemed designed to evoke maximum symp

rd, veiling the arctic chill in her ga

to endure the very pain they inflicted on others,

arrie's true nature to

red words struck Carrie like a physical blow, leaving her momentarily paralyzed. "S

ristina turned and strod

dripping with sarcasm. "Mr. Gilbert, the law e

endril of fear coiling

response, Harold had alread

frown. Shame colored his features as he mumbled a h

cealed distress. Her teeth worried at her lower lip as she tugged at his sleeve, fresh t

, his expression hardening with determination. "Don't let her frighten you. I'll never le

ss Carrie's featu

n arranged everything. He and Dr. Wade shar

ing possible to prepare for the surgery.

onded, "I'll release those photograp

essed her face against his chest, a momentary

ftly retrieved her phone and di

d me in the hospital today to apologize, but... I've discovered she's been intimate with another

old and venomous. "That treacherous woman!

"I heard Christina will be attending an upcoming business conf

g laugh. "A woman like her has no place at a business confer

ined sharp - him sprawled on the floor, pride shattered, as Christina's penetrating gaze cut th

night. "Mr. Reed, any man who uses his strength to

in his blood, but her defiance

rived of her arrest - she had crippled Ca

r. Now, he refused to believe that a woman who had endured prison could still be so unyielding.

d the hospital room, oblivio

ld with genuine appreciatio

her chin upward, his voice playful. "Christina,

. Their engagement announcement would only

t.

"How would you prefer I expre

she found herself pressed against the wall of a shadowy

es separa

wore an expression both playful and seductive. His voice dropped to a velvet m

.

air around them. Harold's firm grip on her waist commanded attention, his presence

r limbs, leaving her body to see

complex mixture of apprehension and

d her, satisfaction and mischief dancing in his passionate gaze.

er chest as she inwardly

m her eyes as she met his gaze. "Ha

rd her nagged at her consciousness - particularly those mo

eceded him, but he wasn't known for

s denial ca

atic smile played on his lips. "As the future Mrs. Hew

chime interrupted. After checking the message, he looked up. "Now that news of our engagem

grandmother's surgery app

irit, accepting a granddaughter-in-l

d said with casual ease. "The weddin

held her

tion, prompting his departure. Christ

hall estate, she made her

. "You dare defy me? First, carrying on with Harold behind my back, then refusing to show proper remorse to Carrie! Have you forgo

oney were too tempting to resist. But consider this: the Hewitt family's influence surpasses the Reeds. Would they truly dare retaliate?"

Enterprises may operate discreetly, but its scale is no small

tina's smile held an edge of steel. "

oming unreadable as his brow tw

e Hewitt Group ran deep - until three years a

ed that they now sought

.

Cade's parting threat with crystalline clarity. "You claim Nimbus Enterprises will attend the bu

s been transparent - pure pr

deniable, Harold's reputation as a mere pla

acceptable for now, merely serv

nd made her way to Wanderlust Guesthouse where her trusted

rises' operations during your imprisonment. Ms. Marshall, recovering your mother's ass

osted across Chri

other of seducing Cade, res

ad manipulated her mother, then s

bequeathing Nimbus Enterprises to Chri

s from the shadows. Then came the incident involving the Clarke si

possessions, attempting to leverage them into a p

till in Cade's possession, Christina w

ce filled her w

e conference, ensure Nimbus Enterprises redirects funds to the Marshall Gro

ve it to him. But she would also ensu

th lazy interest as he perused the document before him. "So Nimb

dee

withdrawal three years ago due to internal strife had left m

nonchalance. "But such corporate matters fall to my e