Out Of Her Ex-Husband's Shadow, Into The Tycoon's Embrace

o fade, Hailey Bennett drif

oom, a television flickered to life-broadcasting the res

epless nights chasing the perfect shot

smile dying halfway. The winning photo was credited to Malinda F

ef twisted thro

very message she'd sent him had gone unanswered, vanishing into silence. Meanwhile, head

the betrayal, her phone s

months-"Darling." The same number she had dialed again and again

ey pressed the answer button

work under Malinda'

hed, and every bit as cold as the man himself. Even through the lin

ion to Malinda-on you

ing through her restraint. "I've told you ove

ran's tone cut like a shard of

mile curved her lips as if to mask the hollow ache spreading in her chest. The

rly died getting those shots. Every one of them cost me blood a

you honestly think you can cover y

her knuckles whiten around her pho

retorted, "So to please Malinda,

leaving only cold fury behind. "Let me spell it out

through Hailey's ches

his care unwavering. Before Malinda appeared, he'd

blurted suddenly, her ton

he edge in his voice unmistakable. "Hai

e," she whispered

ld finish. The harsh beeps rang i

nd failed-to form a smile. Tears slid down her cheeks, falling

ge. And she would never allow Malinda to steal her

paperwork with brisk determination

ring every scrap of evidence that proved Malinda's deceit-train tickets,

her struggle, he

in minutes, her posts exploded across platfor

vanished-her account suspended, every post

er laptop. Her pulse hammered, and her fingers tighte

ake, Kieran had truly

hit-today was Malinda's award ceremony. The golden moment of her public triumph

hrough the quiet outside, follo

turned

eatures hardened with b

n, his towering presence pressing dow

I warned you about," he mutter

Malinda's name would've been dragged thr

eneath her outrage. "Same to yo

t time she had

an cold, leaving him m

n who always tiptoed around h

posing a forearm marred by half

documentaries cost me more than you'll ever understand. Kieran, I never as

reaking, years of silent resentme

ot from crying, but from

th the hard lines of his face. "You made this bed yourself. A ma

er vision blurring at the edges. She shut her ey

murmured. "All I care about

lips as he looked down at her

ls biting into her palm

n had stepped in-paying off debts, co

ed together until she couldn

But this was too much. Asking her to surrender th

pulled out his phone, his voice flat and merciles