a point

I knocked on the double oak door

halfway, expressi

r. Winston," I said, tr

ped back withou

lked

k suit, one hand in his pocket, the other swirling dark li

dn't

ou slept we

lly," I

usting to

d. "I came fo

turned slowly, those gre

use

ntract said payment begin

e of what

ant what

t. The corner of his mouth

a dis

s," he said calmly. "But it's co

mach d

the fine print,"

ate. "You thought it was one night

es. That was th

he said, voice like silk st

? You keep me here until I'm-what

close. "You're the girl I searched for half my li

pping me here is h

child will make it ha

a ste

ollow-but h

astasia," he reminded. "You

snapped. "Not to be c

you should've read the f

ed out before I sa

hroom door and rummaged through

much with me-but

pi

in

swallowed it dry, and brac

uld n

version of love, his scar-filled stories.

anted w

I couldn't walk away-not yet. But

safe until I figured o

e make out with me that n

h him away, he never bulged.

gh the halls, I felt the weight of invisible eyes behind

maid-watched me with

I caught he

id sharply. "Why

"I was instructed to make

s open on

luding going through m

You're part of the Winston househo

efore I co

closed before snatchin

were sti

into the lin

her and I did

nth day, I sta

eadaches.

as anxiety. Stress. The guilt of selling my body to a billion

nside... I knew Some

ight, depending on wh

ched. My head was spinning. When Dr. Grant knocked on the door w

a few questions. Then ha

trembled as

" I a

g your hormone levels. We believe

yself in t

ent the second pi

tive

g-despite the pills, t

test like it h

se it

t of the room th

til mi

when

like he owned the air.

ne. He didn't smi

didn't

w?" I wh

side, slow. "

watch

e corrected. "Your appetite

ad no

he said coolly. "You

ulsing through me.

ng cold flickering

said, voice shaking. "I came here for the

" he said flatly.

. "You call this protection? Yo

. "Don't say thin

I snapped. "And I'm not keepi

le

h

His voice was

to walk

ght my

ly, "I will destroy everything you love. Your pare

at him

would

ly. "Because you're min

arm free. "Y

in

re obsessed with a memory. A fantasy. A

. "And she's standing

him with anger surg

id. "We'll announce th

ze. "

oing to be my wife, Anastasi

, he turned a

and I sank to the fl

my life is g