ity gala

across the ballroom, catching

t rope, my tuxedo fe

oing to the au

ntage Omega

her's

ing of valu

wife, was acr

tilted back, a champ

young and sleek

ring something that

this room,

her company, sp

ed tha

't abou

reminder of a time before my family's archite

w-profile design role, overshadowe

eer started

rt ham

ed my

lled out, my voice s

of polite

s voice, ligh

y thou

ven look at

ella, a smirk pla

a small, ind

ched m

nty-

" Isabe

cut throug

, dec

s tu

ng against he

Ju

stered for a moment

usand from

n't go

ven c

a joke compare

knew

," the auct

ng t

d at Is

ine, cool, alm

s focused on, her ex

lla Vance for fifty

lau

aning in to kiss

took the

said, her voice amplified, "will go to some

lian, holding ou

n, dar

, his eyes

ng it off to the cameras

her's

is w

n burned t

t to give it to him,

ic sta

rred as Isabella's driver

oward

we going?

ce was

r, sweetheart,"

wasn't

eyes held a new, sharp glint I

a private helipad,

around us a

ed nearby, its r

en I s

ra

nger s

ey, pale and terrified, ne

en in medical at

arkinson's, whose experimental, li

?" I choked out, my

s Sarah, her heels cli

nd over Sara

flin

sn't she?" Isabella said,

se is very expensive,

lt s

do you

e, her face illumina

have the watch now? For good? No more s

's," I whispered,

an's," she said, h

e stubborn? This high up, a little accident... a transf

h, at her wide,

all I

" I begged, my

needs her treatment.

" Isabel

now you

pa

atch? Is i

I for

's

derst

ave said

od

, a chilling cu

ely towards the m

ke her back

ella added, almost as an afterthough

it hap

al" signal, a sudden gust,

y lurched

d, a raw, ter

wheel skidding perilo

econd, I thought s

ut Isabella's hand shot out,

ighted th

ing, her small

e of her terror, her near-

finally got Sarah settled insid

s felt

a pain so profound i

d me, her expre

he said, her vo

long as you're cooperative. You

finger dow

and. Just rememb

r, leaving me stand

round me, mocking

e back w

uneasy sleep, thanks to a sedative on

her, my ch

the Isabella I knew, or thought I kn

always l

n the financial crisis, taking my father's spi

en, her lifestyle brand

amily, admired m

irlwind of efficie

me a job,

passionate, and

, lost, and de

ort was

from the worst

as a balm to my sh

ith that devotio

possessi

n t

t on her, a fact I only ad

e to be hers

a whil

pp

an Thorne

ious, with a charm th

o Isabella's circle,

e change

ve she'd had for me, or what

Julian, a need to shower him

reminder of a life she was moving pas

, early on, when the rumors about

an," she'd said, dism

tic. You need to be more generous, darling. You're my husb

of her futu

now felt like

ried to

e

splay of her affection for Julian

d la

ah's experimental treatments? Who will ensur

l wasn't j

d fact of my sister'

nset Parkinson'

ing-edge, and Isabella's wealth was the only thing

my reason

y reas

ra

ment was critical, offering a slim hope of sl

was startin

la kne

used

t was

challenge me about Julian. Don't questi

window at the blu

g inside

ical item,

to for Isabella, the memory of the

vulnerability, my love f

d, desperate idea, flickered

o

h

dn't

faced, a ghost from my

ant, kin

another time, a time when I

otivation was

Sa

ty, Julian's presence,

an to form, a tiny, h

Sarah the care she ne

I would

Vance would l

onger just ab

ntual escape, and p