made his choice. He gave a short, sharp nod to his men. The autho

orward, each taking on

aming, her heavy shoes knocking over an antique Chippendale chair. A stream of curses, a mix of

rdered, her voice devoid of emotion. "

han, terrified by the chaos, had scrambled under the massive dining ta

s, her heels clicking on the marble floor, a g

two-story foyer. The morning sun streamed through the Palladian wi

d for the handle of the massive,

ning light. He was dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, his hair

e was glowing, dressed in an elegant Chanel suit, a sweet, satisfied smile on her face. They look

storm cloud; two of his security guards manhandling a hysterical woman;

ed, dropping Julian's

n the guards' arms, collapsing to the marble floor in a heap a

ad. She looked up at Chloe, her eyes swimming with

loor to Julian. She noted the faint trace of Sabrina's perfume clinging to him, the easy intimacy

What the hell is this, Chloe?" he demanded, his voice a l

hing. "Irina was teaching my so

English well!" Sabrina sobbed from the floor

n back to Chloe. "For God's sake, Chloe. She's a harmless old woman. You can'

o." Then he looked at Chloe, his eyes hard as gran

d made the only choice he could. He nodde

ng behind Sabrina, and shot Chloe

ding that she, his wife, the mother of his child, apologize

e betrayal-it all collapsed into a vast, empty exh

ila envelope she had bee

. "An apology won't be necessary," she said, he

under the shocked gaze of her husband and his