e we

it took for the

ered so precisely it left no traces behind. Celia's name was scrubbed from the

to that building li

Baby bump is

no one dare

fice,

intern stammered,

smoothly. Let's not

ispered, "She's the on

meone else replied.

hem w

hem w

em rem

r throne in b

- Execut

her from acr

mbers like blades. Investors

harks resp

h it-something still wounded, so

didn't follow her immediate

the ghost

t Day - C

kn

ooke

fr

a?" he

gerous, familiar. Her voice

n a long

in his spine. "What the

nd the only person who'd ever tried to destro

aby. The scandal. And I thought.

ing this," he

d a file o

at it," she purred. "

dn't

inside, Cal," she added. "

's O

ow, sipping mint tea,

wn nu

gle m

hink he is. Ask him

s curled arou

ph

rd the na

a face-an

through her he

ia M

kind that lived in a woman's bones. Tha

's office door for a full

me

't expe

t their eyes

her," s

es

dn't te

le

ecause she didn't m

was sharp. "And why did someone sen

aw cl

aid tightly. "Trying

d. "Because now I'm wondering

k – Five

everything Cal sho

Ruthless. Seductive. P

ld his secrets to the highest bidder. Until the

the guilt. But she'd crawle

es

d. But I fixed it. Quietly. I didn't w

im. "You're stil

use I

ersion of me-the one who doesn't ask too

oser. "That

are you h

r. This woman-bruised by betrayal, blazing

he said quietly. But I did. Bec

hard. That m

That

dn't g

, windows full of stars. Alone with her thoug

ne buzz

er me

who owned 17% of Prescott Indust

her

ph

contract signed wit

chest t

wasn'

just be

arely

n-Cal and Sophia, smiling like co-conspira

t a casual deal. It was control.

d never sa

nto the office the next

s calc

ffice –

tered. His face softened, but

rcent of your company,

spoke before

t," he fin

d

ago. Sophia helped me with a hostile takeover. She

about it," Nora replied. "An

bought her out. Th

" she snapped. "Why does she still walk int

ed. "Because sh

be you l

. Cal's jaw tensed, but he didn't

ra whispered. "But it feels li

's Apartment

irking as she replayed a voicemai

ic. Apologizing. E

kne

as pl

peaking into the speakerphone wh

an's voice replied. "She'

hia said sharply. Hor

she'll tu

er to turn on him. I just need her to stop tr

rtment – T

gain. This time, she didn't re

on her belly. Her

er mi

it

lf believe love could e

oor b

gnore

zzed

ag

his v

ase. Open

to it. H

they

ed in rain, eyes bloods

answers," he said. "

et hi

se she tr

eeded to hear wha

show up at the Presc

es. But appearances mattered, and Cal needed her there-at le

. Simple. Fierce.

ill st

along the walls. Investors sipped gold-rimmed c

ff to the si

phia ap

And a confidence that dar

rough the crowd lik

ver stopped

soaked in poison-laced sugar. You cle

want to enjoy this night, Sophia

sweetheart... we both

ophia turned-and walked righ

meras. Fl

The room tu

into the mic. "I just cou

l her back, but

ott Industries," she said. "And no

ed to th

Especially in men who rewrite history an

owd er

the mic. "Th

company? The offshore accounts? Or maybe- she looked right at N

blood r

room

t d

ght – Outside

d into the cold night air. Cal

lying,"

wisting something real. Tha

er hand. "Le

e what you gave up to protect me. Tell me what S

ep them quiet. To guarantee your position stayed safe. But th

"You gave up your

"And I'd do

You should've told me. You

g down her cheeks. Cal reache

e behind closed doors," she said.

rd the car wait

e in a storm of flashing