e cacophony of questions from the press, pulling her hand from Jordan's grasp as if his touch were t

oment. To maintain his public façade, he managed a tight smile an

icked shut behind them. The instant the door c

see?" he sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "Just like a we

gently dabbed at her collarbone, where a clear fluid was beginning to

ur public image, Jordan. It's the cost of the

econd who you are," he hissed, his breath smelling faintly of expensive scotch. "You're Mrs. Stephenson. Every

ze in the mirror. Her eyes were devoid of fea

Burton. His sainted, deceased first love. The

rage contorted his features. He raised

mbling, an inch

tter exhaustion. "Go ahead," she whispered, her voice a dare. "Give the tabloids a real st

al. "You're insane," he spat. He turned, kicking a small, elegant trash can with su

the door so hard the mirr

st the vanity, her legs suddenly weak. She took a deep, shudde

hock to her system. She raised a hand, hai

she told the driver

meaningless blur. She pulled out her phone, opened her banking app. Leo's medical trust

r contacts, stopping on a nam

es

th a man rumored to be more of a devil than a businessman. But as the image of

ssed th

risp, international tone,

urt

h the phone. It was calm, with no background noise, as if he wer

"I'm calling about

just a beat or tw

ing out more forcefully than she ex

n the other end, considering, analyzing. "Are you certain?

id, her voice hard. "

xpect noth

medical expenses. Indefinitely. T

, without a mom

back. The Willows. My father... he used it as collateral before he died. I

s a soft, almost inaudible chuckle. The sou

d. "My lawyers will begin the transf

ich

vorce from Jordan Ste

ng. She paid the driver, her phone still pressed to

the elevator. "He needs me. I'm his... his exti

bout Jordan," Hayes's voice came through, smooth and confident. "Just

or. She unlocked her apartment with her fing

her voice cold. "Enough to ruin him

e glittering expanse of Manhattan. "When... when would you nee

don't need your body, Courtney. I need a partner. A wife in name, to present a unit

. She had expected.

rning," he said, his voice returning to its normal, cont

rig

fraction of a second. "Or perhaps I sho

ne wen

e buzzing softly in her ear. A shiver traced its way down her sp

pensive single malt Jordan favored. She drank it in one lon

r veins, igniting not fear

a decisive click. Then she turned and walked towards the

erattack