besieged fortress. She was an artist of subtle manipulation, her weapons of choice being feigned helple

television. She' d always have a story about how she tried to do some chore-laundry, dishes-but was just too weak or confused by ou

ave a rare day to ourselves, a brunch reservation at a place we' d been trying to ge

bing at Willow' s hand with a wet cloth. A shattered coffee mug l

d?" I asked,

t slipped. I think it' s broken." She bit her lip, tears welling in her eye

ely on Willow's hand, which had a faint red mark

annoyance. "Scarlett, can you get the firs

us. "Ethan, we have reserv

late," he snapped.

my patience wearing thin. "Run it

physically wounded her. "She's right, Ethan. I'm fine.

de a show of trying to clean up

han. His annoyance with me

re in front of her. "Can you not show an ounce of compassion? Look at her. She'

his wife, for the sake of this manipulative girl who had been in our lives for

ere, Ethan," I said, my

," he shot back. "You can't see pas

s words echoing in the pristine kitchen. He

out of the kitchen. I didn't get the first aid kit. I

han called after me, his

looking back. "I've

sound a satisfying crack in the su

gala I was supposed to attend that evening with Ethan. I decided to go early, needing to be

a glass of champagne, when a man

"Liam Thorne. We met briefly at the tech summit last

old his software company for a fortune. He had an easy confidenc

d, managing a small

e you alright? You look like you jus

artling, and for some

like that,"

n. You always do." He gestured vaguely toward my brand' s logo, which w

as easy. He listened when I spoke, his eyes focused on me. It was a simple courtesy that f

eyes scanned the room, and when they landed on me, they narrowed. He saw me laughing with Liam,

cknowledge Liam. He grabbed my

e?" he demanded, his vo

g my arm away from his grasp. "

s is my husband, Ethan Vance

ce. Good to meet you. I'm

jealous fire I hadn't seen before. It was possessive, territorial. He was furiou

," he said throu

to talk about,"

enough compassion to his cousin was now acting like a jealous tyrant

c display, his possessive grip, his simmering rage-it wasn't about love. It was about ownership. And I was suddenly