ad been wondering what exactly she was looking for in his office; he stayed awake and pretended

time, there was no hesitation. She retrieved the docu

the door, the l

face a mixture of confusion and

ed, her body shiv

, his voice breaking. "Wha

ispered. "I never meant for it to go this far. My sister's life i

Her heart felt pierced, as if an arrow had struck clean through, and

sion hardening. "You were working

ed me to get close to you. To take these. But

. "You don't get to say you didn't mean to hurt me. Y

. Tears burned in his eyes, but he didn't try to hide th

in love with you," she

ir between them was thick with silence. He couldn't believ

ou doing this?"

eplied, "Because I don't kn

e no qualifications, no experience, n

obbing like the world wa

been ripped from his chest-his very first love, shattered before him. Though he'd lived a life surrou

s she knelt before

opped, raw a

if there's no love? I thought you were differe

d, eyes

on hidden in my armor-

nds. "So this is what he sent y

, filled with

er see you again... count yoursel

cloaking her like a sto

go back. Heartbreak. She delivered the documents to

d, sliding a cheque across the

r hands. She had gained everything she thought she wante

she wanted-and had lost the onl

ed at the finest restaurants. But no matter how far she

e stared at the burner phone Vi

to Carter no

s. "I know you care, but that's not y

the room. It shattered. She

se sh

is empire. Might even

ld never t

t was h

self in alcohol. Her voice cracked as she

sister walked

hind it. Without hesitation, she storme

you made a mistake. But dro

er eyes bloodshot

ice fierce but shaking. "You can't undo it. But if

. to give me everything. But I can't stand by and watch you destroy your

a chance. Do the right thing. I don't have to tell you what

ed away, leaving El

g sil

red to herself,

have to do. I have