antique grandfather clock in the hallway strike eight. She pushed the small suit

red trousers, carefully arranging the sleeve to cover the small bandage on her

the cool, polished wood of the banister. Her destination wa

illing into the darkened hallway. The familiar scent of expe

s massive, imposing desk, a mountain of paperwork in

ologize, get on with it," he said, his voice cold and c

esk and planted her hands firmly on its polished surface, leaning forward

tion of a second, a flicker of something-alarm, maybe even fear-crosse

pe" on the tip of her tongue, ready to deto

ak, a piercing scream ec

s Sab

tly it nearly tipped over. He was on his feet in an instant, brushing

arp pain through her injured wrist. Gritting

ball in the corner of a velvet sofa, her hands clasped over her head, her body wracked with violent tr

ments practiced and sure. He gathered her into his

ble Chloe had never heard him use before. He stroked her hair,

isplay of intimacy. This was the patience, the tenderness, the protection that shoul

Her gaze met Chloe's over Julian's shoulder. For a single, fleeting moment,

n't a panic attack. It was a tactic. A perfectly timed, bri

tep forward, ready to call out the lie, to e

azing with a protective fury. "Can't you see you're ma

overwhelming that a dry, humorless laugh almost escaped her lips. He was protecting his mistress

as impossible.

voice. She simply gave a small, sharp n

solute rhythm on the marble floor o

to her laptop. She opened a secure browser and logged into her fa

, a man who had served the Hayes family for forty y

email was short

tely. Cite irreconcilable differences. I want full and sole custody of Eth

vanished into the ethe

ing the darkened estate. The manicured lawns and sculpted hedges,

m, for the truth, had just begun. A cold wind rattled the windowpane, and Chloe wrapped her arms around her