Go back to the way things were? The fact that he

oment he chose to stand by R

he fixed her gaze on him. "You must be confused, Mr. Ward. We

steady, a quiet coldness

, like he hadn't exp

ith a warmth that lit up every r

n emptine

hat love she'd poured into him h

red, clouding his reason. "Maia, if you're still willi

e he was offering a favor, as if be

ddenly let out a laugh. "Vince, you're not the man I used

rned icy as

s face went stiff, the veins a

d, the softness in his face twisting

o talk back. You think you're better than you are. I'm offering you a ch

e calm, polite man fro

ruly saw him - Vince's rea

lings cloud the truth. Now, she

ery man except you in the world were gone, I would never be wi

liation, narrowed into a grin. "Is th

arm around her waist and leaned

ee shot up fast and brutal, catchin

d from Vince as he

dn't find the words. The sh

e at Maia, disbelief wri

spoke with a voice stripped of warmth. "Consider that your fir

and walked off, not even sp

irs behind the velvet curtains of the Mor

ip hard as she wa

ce from me, Maia? Over my de

d unlocked the drawer beneath the v

lay within - an antique emerald bra

er fingers. A sly grin s

ou stole what should've been mine, the bracelet...

.

open the door, peeled off her shirt, and dro

he arrangements

Zoey had made it clear - this was where she

Zoey's wishes? Tha

potless - like someone cle

y. It was too clean, like

silence, her phone li

peared, making her sit up

kes you my niece-in-law now! I don't have much to give, but here's

ght after - this time, it was a tran

sferred a mil

eros carefully. It

lips as she replied, "Zoey, you rea

ou just say too much? You think it

even know ho

Zoey, money flowe

rful response. "You're t

nd whatever you do, keep my identity under wraps. Espec

"Relax. I won't spill a wo

u settled in the apart

rough the door,

This one came with a smirking emoji. "I lef

Maia was

on it, the apartment door cr

as sta

up, she locked on

tanding in

ear his feet were the clothe

is gaze came to a halt on Maia - who s

utterly unbothered, lit a spa