d-embossed lettering catching the light. It said, "Bennett Enterprises Ch

ent a thrill down her spine. She hadn't heard from Alex

bout the evening, the visitors, and the high society who would be there. A

ings she couldn't change. But she couldn't help but feel the attraction. Alexander was part of this

ad moved on, she constantly wondered what it would be like to see him again. But it wasn't why s

hen he found out the truth. She had never gotten over how

came from, but a voice inside her begged her to go, face him, and

out him for a long

mistakable tug of temptation. One glance at the name on the invitation, and she wa

andeliers, and the pleasant buzz of discussion filled the area. Evelyn looke

r chest like it had always been there. She wasn't sure how she had gotten up

ss. But when she heard a familiar voice in the distance, it froze her in her tracks. She turned

ests. His suit was sleek and clean, and it fit him as if it had been created just for him. His

skipped a beat as their eyes met. It felt like time had stopped for a second, the air

The moment extended on, but just for a second. His eyes narrowed ever so little, and just as swiftly as they'd l

r heart racing. She co

g to stay aw

nder she had come to know after every

since she got to the gala, she recognized how little had changed.

d there, the walls of the ballroom seemed to move closer, making her unsure of whether to go up to them or back away. Her head told her to flee, bu

his voice pinched, as if pronouncing her name had cost him something. He didn't

, and she could feel the years of

is eyes scanning her as if she were an unusual

word. "I didn't think I'd be here either," she said, and her voice didn

meone else behind her before returning to her. "I thought y

omises violated. There had been a moment when they had been insep

ween them seemed impossible to cross. "I didn't leave anything,"

d changing as he hesitated about whether or not to speak mor

etween them. His voice sank, his words cuttin

aden with mistrust and something far

wd of people, and the music and laughing faded away. He touched her firmly, and his fingers were

feel the heat coming off of him, but there was no warmth in his presence, only the keen edge of rage that clung t

et go of her arm as they were out of sight, but he didn't step back. His dark eyes, as f

low growl, "What a

oked darker and more raw. You could feel his anger,

re," Evelyn said, her voice firm even

his fists clenched at his sides. "You've always had a way of showing up

she didn't look away. She had endured the brunt of h

ever spoken about. "I didn't have a choice," she said softly, and her voice broke for a moment before she g

She could smell his scent and feel the heat of his body next to hers, but it wasn't the com

You think you can just walk back into my life now? She trembled her hands, but she made fists and stood her

were going to die. For a long period, neither of them spoke, the stillness stretching betwee

escape. His eyes, which used to be warm, were now cold and calculating. It felt like the man s

. When he spoke again, his voice was low and scary. "You want to make this ri

om shaking. "I don't want anything from you,

ad. He didn't pay attention to her and kept looking at her. "You can go." Dis

irst choice.

icy that it made h

eel better, but it didn't. The weight of the past still clung to her, and the thought of walk

ed even closer, so near that there was only an inch between them, and his eyes were fixed on h

t to everything I've worked for. Every Single

s been there, hidden deep within. He wasn't given a second opportunity. He was trying to

m him before he could drag her back into the horror they had built together. "Leave," he wh

as racing. She was at a loss for what to do. She didn't know if she cou

ave to deal with everything she had attempted to ig