s remained unread. The hospital, surprisingly, had contacted him about Grace being approved for the

was terr

olling through social media during her vigil at the

d, looking up from th

ed of color. Wordlessly,

e a handsome man whose arm was wrapped possessively around her waist. The caption read: "Montgomery Industries heir Olivi

d Ethan. This couldn't be rea

y estate passed in a blur of rain and rage and confusion. The security guards recognized him, Olivia had ma

stormy sky, a monument to wealth and power he'd always felt uncomfort

nt knocking, eyes widening

iss Montgome

er face pale and drawn despite flawless makeup. She wore an elegant blue dress that Eth

ce was barely recogni

ared, leaving them alone

wly, as if approaching her exec

ach word felt tor

ence of carefully concealed crying, the slight puffiness h

Alexander and I are get

the evidence he'd already seen. "Three days ago, you t

nds trembling slightly before she clasped them togethe

you always said you despised?" Ethan stepped closer, searchi

w voice, cultured and arrog

in a way that spoke of generations of careful breeding. He moved to Olivi

his focus entirely on Olivia

ttered closed. "The truth is, I can't do this anymore, Ethan. Your mother's sickness,

an knew Olivia, knew the micro-expressions tha

ce. She told me everything, how exhausting it was playing charity worker with yo

, but Alexander continue

e said with a cruel smile. "Fortunately, Olivia cam

he saw Olivia flinch. Not in fear of him, never that

ddenly, connections forming. "The Rothman Protocol

lexander interrupted, producing a phone from h

th unshed tears. "Please go, Ethan. Take care of yo

t?" His voice broke. "Did eve

facade cracking. But then she straightened, her expression turning coldly reso

g back toward the stair

after her, desperation

she didn't turn around. Didn't speak. After a moment of painful silen

than could hear. "Olivia Montgomery was always destined for someone of her own class. You were a div

face. Instead, he asked the one question bu

at matters to you people? How quaint. Olivia understands what trul

ed, crystallizing into re

Now leave before I call security. Oh, and Mr. Chen? Enjoy the medica

, cold and terrible. This humiliation, this pain, would not be the end. Somehow, someday, he would become a man that eve

es pulled to her chest as silent sobs wracked her body. Her father's final warning echoed in her mind: if

let Ethan believe the worst of her. Th

ed softly through the door. "Mr. Reed i

l him I'm not feeling well," she managed to say, her voice surprisingly steady

, mi

l framed photograph she'd hidden there, Ethan and her, laughing at the beach last summe

to face down in the bottom drawer. That

pt congratulations from people who called themselves frie

uld begin the treatment that would save her