Shadows Of Loyalty

pte

l temp

ing heavily in fright. Her entire body was drenched, wi

reath, and the man watching her felt a grow

little minx, growing more adept

?" Conley Crack murmured devilishly, tuc

as going to ca

health yet still so

in protest, forcing a playful laugh. "Honey, let's play in the

hands were pin

ws furrowing in suspicio

her while she was unwell, she'

ney

ant

aliate-until her downcast eyes suddenly ca

it identical to the on

len, it must have slipped o

figure behind all t

man's domineering kiss claimed her lips. Los

ut chose to keep it fro

g her back to reality. With a sudden push,

ty. Where did you get it?" she

ned, but he remained silent as

u probi

ion. "Probing? Honey, I don't unde

spell it o

iousness, she faltered

you with Scotfield Mark. Need me to go o

e completely off guard. How w

s large hand gripping her chin and tilting it up until his lips h

bewilderment. "Honey, I really don't know what you're talking

admit it, no

d Mark, and I promised to protect you-so I

eally w

in her eyes. "Honey, I really don't sleepwalk. I don't remember anything

him examine you. You do have somnambulism. I could let it slide, but why did you test m

was on her side-otherwise... Conley Crack

g examined. From now on, she

testing you! Wh

overing close to hers as he lowered his voice. "If you say no,

d be the best to me,

e anything els

ver brought up the subject. Now that the trut

o make you marry me. I feel so guilty. I promise I'll cooperate with Dr. Margret and try to remember everything as soon as possible,

sion seem

tly, searching for any trace of dec

bring it up again. And you'd better pretend you

atever you

loomed closer, and his dominee

by,

nce was

erbearing, each kiss st

and not deceiving me. Otherwise...

im away, but before she could, Conley C

y? Hu

e man had passe

y... unb

th once again, Charlotte dragg

ust walking away. But remembering how he had genuinely helped her before, she u

life. Her face burne

ack's face, where his furrowed

otfield Mark had raised a valid point: why would a man like him insist on marrying

et to the bo

ful seemed to be working. At the very least,

he slipped up... Every step from here on

glanced at the caller ID and smirked coldly

ent a quick text to Margret Sonia, then slipped out u

n hour

emember correctly, this is the first time you've ever called me on your own. Three years, and y

ehind her smile, but it unsettled him. He took an i

bird

ise, we won't be able to have a proper conversation. After all, you're meeting me alone behind Auntie and Dakota Charles's bac

, his gaze fixed o

e you anymore," he

the closest people in the world. And yet..." She smirked coldly. "I won't lie to you. Will you hand th

y down as they frisked him thoroughly. Once they

eat me like this?" Dakota Hurley

With that attitude, do you really think we still have a

ok a seat across from her. "Three years... I never rea

off to the mental hospital. You, Auntie, and those quack doctors all insisted I was ill. Now you're calling it an act

ou

I spent every day wondering... *Am I really your daughter?* How could you do this to me?" Her voice steadied, eeril

got the entire Conley family under your thumb, your status untouchable. You've crushed Anita and D

y serene. "You know I won't strike lightly. But when I do..

d end up like this. No-that wasn't true. The moment Dakota

ss, with them unable to do anything about you, why cling to the past? I'm begging you

only respond wit

ase, I'm be

ething whisper. "You think I got here by luck? Every step I took was by my own strength, none of it thanks to you. When they hurt me, did you ever speak up

t's not

e that title? Don't forget-right now, you're the one begging me. I'm not giving you a c

hat do y

followed your plan step by step. And still, you won't leave me alone? Is your end goal to take my lif

me

st

n at least let me live. I don't want to die."

mself with pride now cowere

oned her and the others, what do you think she'd do? I used to think you were just spineless. Now I see the truth-you'll side

ant to live. I

*me* to want to live? What right do you have to demand anything

you want from me?" Dakota

o use it at Grandpa's birthday to take me down, right?"

o,

on't bother lying, okay?" Charlotte

urley fe

face, keeping you alive isn't exactly easy. I need you to prove your worth-then... do something

mile was t

ere you always like this? I... I can't see

I'd turn out this way-and that your day would come too. Did you really think you could crush me at eve

ow? What

gs difficult for me, I swear I'll bring the entire Dakota family down. Let's be honest-you don't care about

elp me? No. Tha