hia

open window of the private hospital sui

ttress, my fingers tightly gripping t

rame cast a long shadow under the dim lights, radiating a q

found me?" I breathed, my heart th

swer, the heavy oa

d three-piece suit stormed in, c

vard are already trending globally. The media is calling her your newest woman. The board of directors is brea

n. His piercing silver eyes remained locked onto m

s deep baritone dripping with a cool

high-priced lawyer, ran a stres

scandal ruins the exact image of corporate stability we need before the Euro-Merger is finalized.

g his head to glance at his lawyer. The icy dominance

liability. She's go

opped. "Y

us, Marcus. Draft the paperwork I requested and ensure the board's

at Lucas's hardened expression had him backing out

n. Lucas turned back to me, his heavy boots thudding soft

sive leather, cedar, and raw masculine warmth rolled

the mattress on either side of my thighs,

ting. I could see the dark, letha

is breath brushing over my lips, sending a sudd

d of directors consists of old, traditional men. They demand stability before they a

I scoffed, my voice trembling slightl

till smelled of Ethan's betrayal. "I was just publicly

ucas corrected, his gaze intense, heavy wit

ect narrative. It proves I'm settling down, and

ket of his leather cut. He pulled out a crisp, fol

enthouse in downtown Los Angeles, ten million dollars deposited into your private account by tomorrow morning, absol

of wealth and power he was casually throwing around co

e Ethan and Vanessa eat their words, to en

battered from the aftern

lifting my c

, a flicker of amusement cr

N

ought, Mr. Knight," I said, standing

discarded like trash when I was no longer convenient. I am not jumping into another gold

door, but the heavy satin hem of my dress caught on my he

ught me

forearm, while his other arm wrapped securely aroun

aight to my core. My hands instinctively landed on his broad sh

I looked up at him, panting, completely

hot. He didn't let go. His grip was unyielding, yet surprisin

yes dropping briefly to my lips before lockin

ullivans will try to crush your reputation entirely to save their own s

ying to ignore the frantic poundi

me

his gaze dropped to the silver nec

deep shadow flickering acro

a cage, Elena's daug

world stopp

roat. My body went comple

and my father had systematically erased every single trace of her

les ever mentioned her anymore.

nic gripping my chest. I stared at Lucas, sear

know my mo

his grip on my waist,

brushing against the edge of the silv

lse race, a strange, overwhelming warmt

ing to a gravelly, fierce whisper th

. She knew the den of wolves you were growing up in," Lucas said, his silver