h. A shadow crossed his eyes, bitterness and frustration coiling tight in his chest. With a sudden

y reopened an old wound buried deep within her heart. Her

. "You crashed into my life like it meant nothing, Grayson-and walked out like it meant even less. What the hel

e down the road as she reached f

t, his grip firm but trembling. "Rora," he murmured, the low whi

all me that! Whatever we had is over-if you think we

mand, the driver eased

pushed open the car door and

the last trace of her silhouette vanished. Her final words echoed like a cur

t she'd said she wanted nothing to do with. As he ref

.

ng, laughter and chatter fil

ght. Seated beside her fiancé, Ryan Burton, she stole a glance across the table. Grayson sat opposite, engaged in a light c

introduced you properly," she said, her tone affectionate as she reached over and patted Grayson's arm.

expression composed, her voice even. "

her eyes; her greeting carried

w tensed. His gaze locked onto

tension. "Grayson," he called out lightly, though he couldn'

ed her hand with a reassuring smile and lifted his glass toward Grayson. "I

call her?" His voice came out low and rough

th a tender grin. She answered with a soft smile of

t tightened as he turned away and drained his glass in one sw

n leaned close, carefully pl

crab legs before her, fork hov

ded a slice of coral trout beside it. "Try this, Rora. Thes

iversity professor, his mother the owner of a small flo

ties with her wealthy family to marry for love,

hat Veronica belonged to the f

now. Even after five long years, the memory of Claude standing in her parents' living room, his voice sharp and disdai

her knuckles whitened. A wave of nausea rose, twisting in her stomach. "Excuse me," she

d water over her face until the sting steadied her breathing. Droplets slid down he

of the door bro

ace. Grayson's reflection stood behind her

o shrink around them, the

urned, intent on leaving. But before she could

e kept her tone icy. "Mr. Ro

nt flashed in G

rist in a firm grip. He asked, his tone razor-sharp, "Do you really

r expression icy. "

tightened, his face shad

the air, cold as steel. "If the Burton family learns our past re

wered evenly, "You're welcome

prise flickering across his face as his gaze shifted between her and Grayson. "Rora,"