later, slumped over the pian

oodied fingers, the

, Abby?" he asked, his voice d

arby housemaid who

houldn' t have to see such un

ity, then quickly began to wip

, her spirit crushed,

s gaze fell

ean yourself up.

ithout an

de her way back to her own

, the water stinging

felt like a testa

ying to find some rest, Isab

silk robe, her hai

y?" she purred, wa

o from Abby' s nightstand – a pict

o your family," Isabelle said, her

ed, her voice hoarse. "Why did you really lea

ed, a low, tri

. You' re

e of Abby' s bed,

specifically your grandfather, had driven me away, paid me off, threatened m

littered w

utiful Vance daughter, to save face, to secure som

ss. The calculation, the she

"The name, the money, the connections. I came from nothing. Ethan was my ti

p, smoothin

you? You' re just a temporary inconve

ing, final smile, a

spinning, Isabelle' s v

ightmare orchestrated

, Dr. Chen came

had called him, worried about Ab

re you?" Dr. Chen said, his brow furrowed as he

Because of this marriage. My grandfather' s legacy is being dismantled. Ellie... she' s in an a

Ethan to stop. I offered... I of

er with a mixture of

he ref

he piano for them. For ho

marriage more than anything. If I had just refused... if I had run away...

. "I wish I' d n

e bedroom do

re, his face a

eard eve

bed, his eyes blazing

fingers digging into her fle

?" he snarled. "You wish y