her roared, his face contorted. "You w

one thing. I was de

my voice calm. "And my life is not

mine, his grip str

d his hand as i

solid barrier. "I wouldn't do

was danger

life when dealing with me, hesitated. He saw

spat out, turning to the shocked guests. "I

om the church, Brenda scurrying after

l mode, ushering their influential friends ou

babble of shocked whispers and c

Let th

e was watching me, hi

ed quietly, his eyes searching mine. "My

ness. The papers loved him. Scandal followed him l

ed things from

memory, sha

other's beloved local library when it was about to

early career. It vanished overnight, quashed by an unseen hand. Ethan, typi

t crash. He'd been rushing back, they said, to support me during a pu

n my silen

er knew.

ut anything in my life, Declan," I sai

derstanding, in his eyes. He di

he said, a genuine smile f