breathe with their strong sweet smell. Or maybe it was him being there,

he room, speaking loud enough for the nurse checking my IV to hear. "An

ow that I knew where those hands had been, what they had done. I kept my face calm, thankf

"you didn't need to leav

ake worry. We both knew there was no meeting. I wondered if th

thick with fake feeling. He turned to the nurse. "W

s. I liked her for that. "Dr. Reyes will talk about that during aft

ent before he smiled. "Of course

rds hung in the ai

dkerchief. "I was so worried when Carlos told me," sh

eek?"

t to pull away. "I'm staying at your side to help you get better. C

sing my kitchen, going through my things, made me fee

... tho

ined by the hall light. Despite everything, my heart lifted seeing him. He carried a

id, his deep voice filling

ders like he owned me. "Mr. Vega, we'r

hing in my eyes must have shown my distress, because his bo

lazer from the chair. "And to give Emily this." He placed the orchid on the table beside

ryone in the room understood. Carlos's roses would

stronger than I expected. "Carlos, Daniela, this is Alejandro Ve

m that I had power in my foundation. He held out his hand with practi

great taste in architecture. She found problems in my f

ion of my skills, something rare in my worl

ng on Alejandro's arm too long. "Daniela Morales. I

ro's eye, and something passed between us-a shared un

evoted people in her life," he said, h

f you've found your jacket,

ask Marta if I can have more pain

reak. As he left to find the nurse, Daniela moved

said sweetly. "You'll want your phone a

ed, my wallet, makeup compact, lipstick, and finally, Aleja

prise. "These are beautiful designs. And look, Carlos-" her voice

ketch of my face, dated the night before. I di

ng white as he flipped through the pages. "You le

desperate to calm his jealousy. But pain had i

ght, Carlos. Alejandro kept watch

ketchbook very carefully, his face hardenin

he said finally, his voice col

medicine through my IV. "This should help with the p

, grateful for both the med

s had put it on the window ledge. "I have a meeting with the hospital board thi

me since waking up. "I'd like to look at t

ithout his knowledge or permission. But he said noth

d back. "Emily, remember what I said ab

one, leaving me alone with the two peop

my sheets when they didn't need it. "What a stran

ormation, chances to manipulate. I remembered how she had first worked her way in

" I repli

but her eyes gleamed

ff him in waves. "I don't want him involved with you

ion." The words came o

stared at me, not used t

" Carlos's voice d

board. My decision." I held his gaze steadily, desp

y covered by calculation. He exchanged a look with D

o sound understanding. "And on medication. We'll t

lready knew, that my opinions never mattered, that my skills were always

id, closing my eyes. "The me

ad that felt like it was burning me. "Daniela and I will

kly reached for my phone. My hands shook as I typed a message to Sofia,

looking into Ca

dding: And find out everything

ive wife, too afraid of losing him to question his cruelty, his control, his cheating. The ac

e. I was afraid of staying trapped in t

ly put my phone aside. But instead

he said, checking my vital signs. "They were argui

ntly. "Thank

ldn't leave your side all night. Held your hand through the worst parts. Refused to let

the soft smell of the orchid beside me. Carlos's roses lay forgotte

sary. It had always felt like a collar. Now I understood it was. But collars could be taken off, cages es

s of my determination without weakening it. Carlos and Dan

I was about to ch