nt, hesitated for a moment before asking, "S

les, irritation flashing a

ation. If splurging eased her temper

e vibrated. Another alert flashed-over thirty

yguards stood stiffly, arms laden with shop

latest purchase to Gerard, whose hands were conspicuously empty.

own softening as he glanced at the caller ID. Long fingers cradled the ph

tartled glances. Had their boss forgo

's unconscious-still in surgery," the voice on the line blurted, fran

y." Kristian's chest constricte

l, his gaze flic

rned to Gerard and the bodyguards. "Stay with her. Buy whatever she wan

the five m

an strode off, leaving Freya

silence settled

ng a polished smile. "Mrs. Shaw, don't worry.

eya murmured, her tone lace

d, thrown by

ing his assistant is one thing. But cleaning up his messes? Tell me, Gerar

tiffened; Gerard

n stared at her with somethi

knowing her husband had left her for another wom

ons. She gestured to the bags weighing them down. "A single

landed pe

"Well, anythi

f eyes widen

ked in ways they

put his money to better use." She twirled the blac

adn't realized Kristian's depa

wanted was to dra

the bodygua

reya resumed shopping, the

ay. But as she sat down to eat, he appeared like a stor

Freya's wrist and hauled her toward

r, pain radiating through her. She w

like a whip crack,

driver, didn't you? I gave you everything you wanted, the house, the

geance personified

reya's confusio

d this. Picked today so I'd be distracted while your hired m

the kind that seeped into bo

r, sharper. His absurd accusation had an ironic eff

derision. "How poetic. Turning b

n's control frayed, his

us be damned. "Think. Why would I trash my f

s voice dropped lower, a b

. "Ah. You think I'm st

s clenched jaw and the fire i

brittle. "After being treated as a stand-in? After your

landed l

d. "I didn't chea

le wearing my ring." Her smile

lection," h

e hallucinatin

ling back layers for the first time. The

laimed I hired a man to kill her

avering stare, but the frost remained.

brows

, knuckles whitening. "Perfect. Le

Her immediate ag

didn't invite

in. Was the evid

mmand shattere

g ugly twisted in his chest-annoyance? Guilt? Before he could n