beat of my own heart. The cheap, worn fabric of the car seat felt rough against my soaked skin, a grim reminder of how quickly my world had change

me, dripping water onto the polished marble of

ad smile on his face. But the smile wasn't for me. It was for the m

e was already here.

r. Henderson, said, his brow furrowing in con

len in love with, and seeing it now made me physically ill. "I was so worried," he said,

father, my hands clenched into fists at my sides. "Dad, you can't trust him! It was a

veled form to Mark's calm, composed one

Mark just finished explaining the final details of the

heard him, Dad! He was bragging about it with Isabella. They were.

are close. You know that. I think the stress is getting to you." He placed a comf

"He's right, Clara. You're being hysterical. Go upstairs and get yours

er over his own daughter. The sense of betrayal was a fresh wound on top of all the others. I watched, powerless, as he and Mark

beautiful silk now just a damp, heavy shroud

hire the best corporate lawyer in Verid

cess my personal bank account. A small, red box popped up on the

account. The same message. A sick, sinking feeling set

text message from an unknown number.

age was

om, now belongs to me. Don't fight it, Clara. You'll on

ossible escape route. He had taken my money, my company, my father's

g for any option, any lifeline. And then, an image surfaced from the depths of my memory: a

'King of Corporate Warfare,' a shark who smelled blood from miles away. He was a dang

was like asking a wolf to protect you from a fox. But I had nothi

a sky, designed to intimidate. It succeeded. The air inside the lobby was cool and smelled of money-a subtle blend of leather, clean metal, and something

n a tight bun, looked down her nose at my simple dress and worn coat. "Mr. Thorn

shaking slightly. "It's urgen

't soften. "Securit

ut not yet painful. Humiliation washed over me as they began to escort

chime echoed through the lobby. The d

horne st

ly tailored dark gray suit, he moved with an unnerving stillness and predat

flicker of recognition crossed his features. He rem

and. The security guards instant

n Thorne's gaze pinned me to the spot.

w, chilling rumble from the night befo