His Guilt, Her Freedom

d brought his pregnant mistress home. He told Annis

y son," he said.

is mistress had "complications." She needed a transf

ere heart condition, and the doctor warned him that a full tra

d. "I'm assuming f

s, saying, "You owe me this, An

mistress called for him from the next room. He left Annis on the tab

e had for him died right

ie. She survived

. He wasn't carrying a gift. He was carrying a package from Annis, containing signed divorce

pte

a celebration, their nine-year anniversary party. The penthouse buzzed with the l

for Annis the moment D

his new junior analyst, her hand resting possessiv

s smiling, a king in his castle.

ual, as if he were discussing the weather. "Chastity is f

t him, her fac

things to the guest room. And make sure Chastity has everything

air, each one a sepa

s, she had seen the signs-the late nights, the lingering scent of another woman's perfume, the

d. Then she turned and wa

d, Jake, laugh. "See? What did I tell

ve her three days. She'll cry in the guest room, then she

r, her hands steady. She didn't pack. Everything was already packed. Tw

they had shared for nine years. It wasn

ont door, she ignored the stunned faces of the par

re going?" he demanded,

nick." Her voice w

dramatic. Go to the gu

N

ngers digging into her ski

painful: her mother, on her deathbed, placing the cool metal into Annis's hand. She had made Dominick promise, right then and there, that he would cherish and

ked, her voic

cold. "She says it's because she feels guilty about you. Seeing that

memory. Annis looked past him, at Chastity, who was watching with a small, triumphant smile. Tha

n the eye. "You're ri

acelet from her own wrist. "I wish you and the baby

ty's hand shot out and snatched it. With a malicious smirk, she deliberately

iamond at its center fractured. The pieces of the shattered heirloom scatter

f red appeare

ing her arm. "My baby! She hurt

rushed to Chastity's side, examining the

Is the baby okay?" he cooed

y Dominick. She remembered her own pain, her own loss, and

s blazing. "What the hell is wro

oulders and pushed her f

pact sent a sharp pain through her kneecaps as they hit the mar

scene, don't you?" he hisse

zed for nine years. For his moods. For

d be the

tity, who was now being ten

r voice a dead monotone. "I

hed with anger at he

c burst through the door. Dominick immediately dropped An

ld be in danger!" he yelled

t, her knees aching. No one

e. Outside, a black sedan was waiting, just as h

e car and did