night, two hours after she'd walked out of his apartment with a duffel bag. She

he pic

ha

y. A voice that had been rehearsed. "You nee

rea

reme emotional distress. She's in the VIP ward. She's stable, but she's asking for you. She wants to forgive you

ng her. He hadn't moved. He hadn't looked away. His expression was the sa

tack," Christen said. Out

s voice was flat

The rehearsed calm cracked open, and something ugl

o," Christen cut in. "She seemed perfectly healthy t

treme emotional stress that you caused. By accusing me of things you invented. By wa

after she hit me. There a

or. A muffled intercom. Then Brendon's voice came back, and the rehearsed tone was go

didn't wait for her to answer. "Get here. Now. If you don't show up within the hour, I'll have Aisling arrested for assault and elder abuse. Her firm won't touch her after that. Her license won't survive the disciplinary board

ne wen

y. That surprised her. Everything inside her w

trap," s

u were married. She did it to Brendon's father. She did it to Brendon's first girlfriend. She's doin

o, she goes a

d can handl

ry for years. They'll bankrupt her firm. They'll make an example of her. I've wat

t negotiate. Don't give them anything they can use. Walk in, confirm what you a

card was still on the table betw

aid. "Does the o

stopped."

Then she walked o