fight this time. She sat quietly in the back seat, her hands folded in her lap, her mind racing

ound garage of a sleek, glass t

er arm and shoved her forward. Eliza stumbled, catching herself on the arm

hair, her eyes were wide open. She was frantically, greedily cataloging every detail of the space. The floor-to-ceiling windo

handed a thick manila folder and a tablet to Clif

ghts glittering at his back. He pulled a cigar from his pocket,

-the hallway of the hotel where they had met. She saw herself, clearly drugged out

t him up. She was just

nded with a sharp, expensive clatter. Even with the proof of her innocence right in front of him,

ly lawyers, carrying a thick stack of papers. He dropped the

greement. You waive all rights to alimony, property, and the Gray surname. You are retained s

the table for the pen, her fingers brushing over the paper. She found

ilently, the scent of cigar smoke and cedar washing

a leash. Once the baby is born, I will cut that leash and throw you out. Do no

d to stare directly into those cold, arrogant eyes and tell him exactly where he could sho

he paper and signed her name. Because she was "blind," the signature came out sh

He gave her one last, dismissive look, then

heavy, metallic thunk of a deadbolt engagin

stress, the fear, the sheer willpower it took to sit t

glance around the room, she sprinted down the hallway. She pushed open the

t was over, she reached out and turned the faucet. The cold water was a shock to her system

iza raised

arge, ornate mirror h

r eyes red-rimmed. But the eyes... they were no longer dead

e the burst blood vessels in her sclera. She could see the faint, fading br

bruised. But beneath the fear, something else stirred. The same cold fury she'd felt as a child, listening to her family's home burn. They thought they could break her, just like the Pasks had. They were wro

her own eyes and mouthed

on, Mr