s retreat" w

e wealthy patrons paid to wa

into degrading

iation was a

carce, the con

ragile from stress, cou

there, alone, o

stant ache, a holl

. Three yea

hey released me,

usk, bare

driven by a desper

, discreet restaurant where Ju

he shadows

I'll admit," Julian's voice dr

it did somethin

in. "Well, Chloe is back now, dear. She' ll

can keep her somewhere quiet. A hidden mistress,

"Sensible. We always kn

eath

they valued

y ability to bring good for

me, and now they were re

harder than any physi

love, had been