hea

supposed lack of gratitude. I took a sharp step forward, clo

yet it carried across the silent

lace. He couldn't meet my gaze; his own flickered a

sal was never for me," I said, my voice gaining strength

The color drained from her face, leaving it a sickly white. She s

ng with fury. She pointed a trembling finger at me, her red-painted nail like a drop of blood.

e to protect your precious, perfect daughter? Because you knew the Alpha was unstable.

his temple. "That is enough!" he roared, finally finding his voice. He tried

I was no longer

raised my hand and pointed a single, steady finger at the gleaming silver p

arity. "Let's talk about your celebrated research. Your paper

grew thick, heavy

"Every discovery. Every single word of your success was bought with my sle

e life, his reputation, his very identity, was

The terror. He was a fraud, and I w

olar crumbled, revealing the desperate, cornered ma

is hand, his arm swinging back to

k. I just stared into his eyes, my own gaze a sile

p never

asps. He saw something in my eyes he had never seen before-not fear, not submission, but a cold, h

llar, straightening a tie that was already perfectly straig

nging open. Katrina had shrunk into the cushions

m had shifted, compl

their faces pale with shock and

d for the first time in my life, I