ie

ed me awake, slicing through the

nd found my phone, and I heard Violet's voice

irl. We can't be late today, not with t

e back to reality. I blinked, trying to clear the sleep a

asn't m

closed curtains, casting soft shadows ov

ger with dark, seductive eyes, and kisses that had left me breathl

of it heavy, but somehow, being with that man had dulled the pa

leeping peacefully beside me, his chest

ic joined my ha

e I done? Alcohol i

bed, gathering my clothes

rried to get dressed, h

, I made my escape, softly

~

was short-lived as I s

her, Lillian, berating my younger half-sister, Hannah, from

's tone was edged with impatience. "If your sister just listened to

sister!" I heard

eutral as I could make it, despite the ang

ed onto me, narrowin

barely masking her irritation. Hannah sat beside her, s

t since the day I joined the family, but I'd nev

ntinued, her gaze sweeping over m

ut, hoping it would be enough

e, Lillian wou

. He was willing to cover Andrew's hospital bills, Sien

rcing myself to k

d's surgery is scheduled f

li

no idea where I would get it, but I couldn't let her keep dangling marri

ars couldn't cover those bills. Jack Lowry's son is sti

ess as I felt the fight simmering within me. Inste

ndle it, d

hind me. The exhaustion of everything-last night, my father's health, and Lillia

nown, was lying in a hospital bed, his life tether

y twelve when I lost my memory, waking up in a cold, sterile hospital r

ed to me, eventually became my fathe

ne else did. I owed him everything. But the cost was so high, and Lillian... we

ughts away. I had work to f

. The lobby bustled with energy, a strange tension in the air as empl

CEO's son, freshly back from Lon

wn bob bouncing as she waved me over excitedly. She looked especiall

e whispered, grabbing my arm

y, he's taking over sooner than anyone expected. Can you

mind still swimming wit

hat he looks like," I replied,

st conglomerates, known for its reach ac

sands of employees, and frankly, most of us will never even meet the CEO,

. And, rumor has it..." She paused, gi

elf, but before we could exchange more g

oving in synchronization to open the doors. Bodyguards flank

d, every head turn

rushed his calves, a sophisticated Kangol ha

lately tailored, fitting him

sive cologne drifted through the lobby, an

wed him, captivated by

sing as it swept the room. But then his eyes locked on me, and

ering in my chest as the realization wash

was

he man I'd thought would be not

my mind racing to process the truth.

narrowed at me, It's obvi