here,

tone bored. Ashlie stared at the line. Ashlie B

o the paper. She forced herself to write, each stroke a tiny act of self-

, brutal efficiency. Ellsworth Marshall. The letters were sharp, aggressive, e

hin booklets across the counter. "Congratulati

ust a piece of paper with a gold seal. It was supposed to be a sy

he counter in front of Ashlie. It landed with a soft slap, the sound echoing in the quiet hall. He also tossed a slim, heavy black envelope bes

Her fingers dug into her palms as she told herself to endure it. For her father, for the Bradford name, this wa

dizzy, untethered from reality. She had done i

en door of the Bentley, bowing s

to halt. He moved closer, backing her up until her shoulders hit the cold metal of the car door. H

ers. His breath smelled like mint and

ly for her. "Marrying you, keeping you legally bound to me... destroyin

seemed to freeze in her veins. She couldn't breathe, couldn't

of the Bentley was sho

with dark hair and eyes that were a miniature version of Ellsw

rain short

ch

th had

ight train. He had a son. A secret

a stepmother to hi

had to rub her face in his past, make her the caretaker for the evidence of

and gave a slight nod. The boy immediately scrambled out of the car, runnin

ie, his gaze hardening.

ng to cooperate. Her pride, what litt

ck further, clearly inti

pping to a dangerous register, "pick him up

king. He hadn't asked for this. He was just another

child. An i

sworth's triumphant face. She thought of her fathe

and knelt down on the sidewalk. She forced

ly, holding out her

e a barely perceptible nod. Then th

ke baby shampoo and milk, a scent that was entirely out of place in this nightmare. Bu

nreadable expression flickering in h

ic

He had taken a picture of her, holding the

she started, but

one. A cold smile touched his lips. "A

dn't explain. He just turned and s

said, his tone professional and devoid of emotion. "Mr. Marshall requi

Numbly, Ashlie recited her number, and he t

from the dark interior. "You

she climbed into the car. The leather was cool against he

nd her. The sound was fina

she thought was his son. With