u'll come to see it one day, Mrs. Shaw. I'm no less t

ously toward the silent Derek standing behind her, and t

ssion. "You?" she scoffed. "You're nothing but a homewrecker. You're

y in fury, snatched up her bag

r Janice's retreating figure, then turned toward Derek,

learly hates me. What

t," he said gently. "You're the benefactor of ou

ion. "All I ever want is to stay by your side forever, but I'm so afraid

ou think Leanna might have said something bad about

kened. Leanna's image-bright and compo

't that kind of person. Don't overthink it. I promised I would take c

Leanna, Kristine clenched her jaw an

n mind; given how close she was to Dere

into pitiful innocence as she slowly unbutto

ely, lifted her arms around his nec

determined to go al

is neck, Derek instinctively rai

dening instantly. "Derek," she asked, her

" he said quietly. "I've only just regained consciousness not long

ouldn't even accep

oke up, he had been able to sl

tment settling over her face as she wiped a

at night, but it seemed she would h

all day-even a single bite triggered nausea, leaving her

r mind, prompting her to rush t

a dazed state, clutching her results, and acciden

l? Don't tell me you're so devastated by t

ack to awareness. She looked up and saw Kr

as vile and calculating as you is

ng at her, and as she did, a stron

's senses, causing her stomach to churn as she cove

n shock, and before she could stop herself, sh