e face, a sigh slipping out from his no

s at him, gently shaking the cuf

furrowed, clea

e up his mind, pressing both thumbs ont

the cuffs released with a c

her reddened wrists a

t next level. And last time. I'm the one who tricked him in

uffs? I swear, if I find out who made them, I'm

is throat lightly

er, same tone.

. Unlocked i

cool lips a quick peck. "Th

ght through him, blood surging.

rst re

ime with the CP

m...Oh, I'll ask Mrs. Jones to whip you up something. She'll bring

ckly and made

e door, his hand

he one he loved most-then rus

tching him go, his tall f

e her a second

to make things

ned, killing i

life-she was going to

ch sped down the ro

s gold-rimmed glasses and happened to glance at

one-faced boss

r than hittin

or five whole years and never o

thanks to that drama q

me the flat voice from the back

itched. Was he b

plastered on his face all the

hopped out and open

building and headed into

d, a woman's designer clutc

ped forward, her voice like wa

tly. Tristan's smile vanished like

as ice, laced wit

self-preservation, the woman s

ss

d without missing a beat,

a hint of mercy and s

ly hit the c

nfect the wh

n

ten, he'd lost track. Disinfecting the elev

as. Wild as she was, she had the

he empire we were talking about-h

ll for someone who did

rying to figure out that riddl

red his throat awkwardly, hand clenched into a

ith just your head next t

s,

the moment he heard that. Sweat

d, sharply dressed in a tailored suit, st

sat an oval redwood table, and ever

e quickly stood and greeted

ht nod as the

e whole time. His mind was somewhere else-circ

o get him to let

anning to

do just about a

where she went

ends of the earth, he'd

rost over. His jawline tensed, an

ared utter a word, and the one spea

ithout a word, walked out of the meeti

rambled to

amscap

ss mirror, staring at her own face

plexion had faded into a sickly pallor. Hair messy, skin d

kissed Trist

Would he have nightmare

throom and leaned against

wept over

everywhere-her

e entire room. It used to be all black and white, cold and

ed toys-all pink too-like he was tryi

n't deny it: Tristan really did

e man didn't kn

, she'd t

k, kn

a knock at

he said, bar

ith croissants and cookies. The moment

tand, she quickly turned back

ok at you-you've wasted away these last few days." Mrs. Jones g

young master stopped eating too. He's been working around th

brows

o pale lately-he'd been p

s i

r chest, and even the butter

Jones, I'm done fighting with Tris

words, Mrs. Jones

g at her with sincere eyes. "Miss, please... have some mercy on the young m

hands, offering a soft smile. "I mean it this time. I want

atched him grow up. When he was little, he lived with his mom out in the cou

lic side of Tristan. She had no clue

onfusion in her eyes. "Wait, I'm not foll

about to explain when they both