for your

entire body went numb. She stood there, frozen in the door

real. This cou

woman's apartment. Shirtless. Guilty.

. Empty. Like her name meant

ut broken, barely a whisp

a, then back at Cora. Something shifted in his expression.

e said simply. "There is no

s so hard she thought it might crack them open. "Pretending? What are yo

aw tightened. "That is why I wa

spun in her head like a night

ed. Her hands started shaking. "You were

y and just as sticky. She was still sprawled on that couch, looking at C

she blinked them back. No. She would

cracking. "Whatever this is, we can fix it. We can t

. "That cramped little apartment? That

nto her chest, each

se, raw and desperate. "I made sure we had food! I made

shed with anger now. "You think working yourself to

inside Cora

before her brain

LA

h the apartment like a wh

ock on his face would have been satisfying if Cora's hand was n

ds, nobody moved

face twiste

and ca

LA

across her face-hot, brutal, blinding. She tasted copp

gasping. Liam had never hit her be

Vanessa here is the reason I landed a lead role with Director Morrison in his new movie. I am about to become a star, Cora. A r

ke water. "What... w

sitting on the side table. He pulled out a thick stack o

em at her fee

Bored, even. "But since you are already here, you might as well sign them now. I will throw

expensive floor. Her whole body trembled. This

voice was so small. "You were going

is as good a

broke something in her t

d came out lik

her fingers twisting into the fabric. She was shakin

ept! I performed badly in college because I was working myself to death, all because of you! I sent recommendatio

g flickered in Liam's eyes.

Vanessa

ulder as she walked, revealing perfect skin and curves that belonged on billb

Cora like she

voice dripping with false swe

t slack. She let

Of the Sterling family. You know, the family that owns half thi

No, n

tilted her head, enjoying every second of this. "Director Morrison works under our production company. He gave Liam

left Cora

. In newspapers. On charity foundations. They wer

ssa was o

with pure contempt. "That is right, Cora. Vanessa is a Sterling. Morrison gave me the role becaus

mpty. Like someone had reached inside her skull

d at each other. And th

elest sound Cor

and musical. "Oh, this is too good. Look at her