her life belonge

xteen, lost in the

beautiful apartment in Man

in lessons at Juilli

thing, Julian

r, Mia, had sever

achines, constant ca

world. Julian

d herself she did. He was inten

ked grand

d out the entire top floor of the Mus

and a string quartet playi

for their anniversary because

nce Holdings, old money New

om nowhere, unfit

told Ava, "You are mine

, cherished, even if a part

an met Ch

e of those loud, crowded thing

e wore thick, distinctive glasses

ity and struggle, her vo

ed half of SoHo

ter, "She's di

old knot in

ed seein

ittering. "I want to see what it takes to bu

lieve him. She

He was always with Chloe

felt very r

ne "blocked" Julian.

to their Hamptons

r wind screaming off th

o her?" he snarled,

a thin silk

an. I haven't

ia

e massive stone balcony ov

hrough her nig

" he co

e was stone. She knelt

at you said

ulian, I swear." Ava shiv

d out hi

a in her sterile room at the p

a ventilator mask

started flashing. An alarm beeped

alfunctioning," Julian sai

shall we say, delayed. Unl

Mia couldn't breathe

se! She needs

ld Chloe to make her igno

t Mia, not really.

," Ava choked out, the lie bitter on h

say somethi

, a cold, sat

d gi

Fix the ventilator in M

a moment, shivering

ur place, Ava. Don

ent inside, lea

nd roughly pulled her to her feet,

n't feel

body aching with col

ove echoed in her mind. "

e was replaceable. S

oe Raine once, very brief

through her, a small, k

ge of an artist who di

drew Julian in. He wanted to own

ive glasses, her slightly clumsy way of moving because

y, Ava felt a familiar

a test.

as pr

aybe a baby would change Julian. Make him th

him tha

her, his expres

d is not in my plans

hope

oe, who was now back in his fa

ng hard to get, keepi

tly. "Why is she still so di

requent. Julian was volatil

was yelling, pacin

rious enough! She thinks

t," Ava whispered, c

"You should have been more careful! You're

constant fear,

ugh Ava's abdomen. She

arm gush bet

coll

as Julian staring down a

unfamiliar room in a remote guesthouse

rse told her sh

by was

n't come t

you are to stay here and reflect on your behavior. He sa

elt n

er. Just a vast,

for Julian, the gratitude, th

ything. Now, he h

e, staring a

ot her savior. He

utterly, com