la's assistant, a brisk

r to check on you and Sarah at home. She was ve

cer

was a bit

e" was another

rofessionals descen

eck-up and more like a

, her fear from the night bef

y check, my own emo

nced us both "sta

livered a small, el

Isa

-blend of tea, s

: "For your nerves, darling.

wed a

like ash i

ate gestures th

zzed with n

al m

out

t night's gala

, gifting Julian

eening, ac

ir "electric chemistry,"

Isabella Vance's New

ach word, was

er affair, of my humil

l of my lost legacy, now a

ea Isabella sent, the

rred wi

g a small duffel

take when I

mu

clo

w bo

ied me to this

s Isabella bought me – they felt like pr

d none

oto album tucked

ella and me, fro

gh mine, genuine smi

her company became a glo

fiercely, a time her possessivene

Isabella, they

oto of us at my

r expression full of a so

all bee

changed so

I opened my laptop

emails, shar

ital trac

s a small act

orbell

expecti

as J

silk robe, my father's Om

half-eaten

said, his voice dripp

should check on you. Make sure

croissant, crumbs fall

, my voice tight. "I

down at it, fe

sentimental attachment. It's nice,

ed the

it sometimes. When

win

it makes her thi

d sharp, surg

ath, trying to ke

y it from you. N

a high, unpl

u can't afford my price. Be

voice dropping to a

nds her of who's

lick of his wrist, he

thought he mig

, and then, with deliberate, malicious forc

stal sh

ands

r's watc

s eyes wide with feigne

he full impact of what he'd do

ave heard

r eyes immediatel

" she cried, fussing over him, checking

tely adopted a

id the watch was tainted because I touched it, and t

on me, her face

is? You att

I said, my voice raw.

o me, Ethan!

fly! You're just jealous

lind devotion in her eyes

t that watch

ha

re when I grie

at it, the one ta

e chose to be

o humiliate me, and now sh

ding," I said,

ording Julian's taunts aft

was in

taunting me, admittin

finish th