Julian hosted a

nt clients, the wealthy patrons who

hostess, glowing and

dark suit, but I could see the fatigue

e, searching for a reaction

ound

to his guests wit

Amelia. She's staying

ni

branding, a formal d

him, placed a proprie

ve her," she said, he

with the baby on the way

ation flowe

, about money, about

pouring her sparkling water, pl

and casually remarked, "Clara is the center of my w

, but I felt the sting of his words

backgrou

ening

aircase to join the guests in the

he stairs, speaking to o

t few steps, her eyes me

r of something mal

it hap

cally, her hand fl

her, and she pitched forward, tu

ttered on the

ng scream of pain as

r of terror cut throu

an instant, his face

Is the b

loor, clutching her belly,

ed, pointing a tre

g right there. She trip

he room swivele

accusation hanging i

spered, my he

nd the look in his eyes was so

terated fury, direc

't ques

t ask fo

ly beli

ed, his voice l

could

rushed toward the door, shouting fo

d at me with a mixture

onds, I had been t

fluorescent lights and the

n taken into

he waiting

emerged, his fa

t Clara had st

t lose t

ood," he said, his voic

rare. The hospita

d his eyes lo

e same a

mmediately wha

what he was

donation. N

n't a

s an

n't a

rotest my

as the

ady made hi

oom, and I felt the sharp p

blood, my life force, drain fr

child of the woman who had destroyed

m began

voice sound

in, I found myself do

ted co

n

promise

w

ove I had

re

lete realization of

keep c

lfill, a debt to p

was complete, I