mpanied her soft refusal. "It's not necessar

t Andrew's side, she had never once touched a cent of his money. Now that his true identity as the Hu

ndrew picked up on he

em after another, he trailed a step behind, settlin

lightly into her lower lip as hesitation flickered across her face. "Kaelyn...

t, feeling bad about

r lips together

pped her chin up, her voice edged with playful mockery. "

nod, his attention still fixed on Xenia. "Xenia, if a

t him. "Are you se

ean

let out a quiet scoff before turning on her

ze to Andrew, as if being treated t

Andrew's brows as a flicker

ose strand of hair behind her ear before speaking in a soft, almost timid voice. "Dr. Hudson, the l

d, "What mattered was that you were okay. I just ha

ed, a quiet, incredulous lau

cide

mehow ended up right beside her, ready to

d chance really lin

he glass display, catching on a sleek handbag that made her br

forward. "I'm sorry, Miss, but both of those designs are currentl

ietly, the light in her eyes fading as she

few, pieces that couldn't be secured with money alone without the right connections. Memory stirred sharply. The last time

ad told her to choose something el

n grew thoughtful, his brows knitting slightly as he p

ter, the sales associ

e attentive than before. "Miss Reynolds, those two handbags you admired can be sourced from anoth

rs curling slightly at her sides as she tried to proce

onal manager called just now. He insisted that since you lik

ntioned the instruction came directly from Mr. Hudson, the heir of the Hudso

ze dropping for a second before lifting again in confusion. "I d

e, the sales associate piled on the flattery. "And honestly, Miss

looked at Xenia, his tone soft as he added, "Sh

ear Kaelyn." Turning toward Kaelyn, Xenia lifted her head again, that gentle smile lingering as

Andrew's every reaction with quiet amusement. Only wh

rfectly matched-both masters of thei

she said, "If they were given to you, then keep them.

a's and Andrew's faces. Sensing the tension spike, the sales associate hurried in with

into the boutique, their eyes lighting up with envy when th

Mr. Hudson, their curiosity turned eager, an

her posture demure, offering soft, modest replies, though

fixed on her, a faint smile ling

ed-that everything she had shared with Andrew over those three

tion coiled in her chest, threate

e turned on her heel and walke

injury, and a sharp ache flared th

e pressed her lips together as h

e of this lingering pain-regular treatments and c

a struggle, while Andrew-both her boyfriend and that very persona

p or notice that she h

g more bitterly i

enough to steal her breath. Off balance, she staggered forward and nearly crash

you're going. My mother's old-if she gets h

t doesn't excuse your manners. Don

girl thinks she can push people a

voices crashing over one another until a dull ache thr

e, shopping bags looped over his arm as he chatted easi

lyn. Squeezing her eyes shut, she rais

over, their attention at

nia's purchases neatly into the car before making his way o

only when picking on someone weaker-quickly lost their

d softly, "Kay

of the car, Kaelyn felt the dull ache i

earing that carefully arranged look of concern. A faint, cutting smile tugged a

rease between his brows deepening. "I'm sorry. Xenia's heart condition mean

owe me an apology," Kaelyn answ

ate edge. "She's got a heart condition, and you're a doctor. Honestly, even

n as he searched Kaelyn's face, studying her with a quiet,

ough her expression. With a casual shrug and a trace of dry amusement, s

t was true

gentleness and concern had long

htest-if anything, he would gladly carve out

mething darker, sharper-no longer irritation, but a cold, burning ha

to speak when the roar of a motor

ward Andrew at her side, yet he didn't spare her a single glance, his arms moving on r