years

y International Airport flipped rap

ten. That was the year her biological father brought his mistress and illegitimate daughter home, turning Corrie into a so-called "bastard." Her mother had suffered a severe mental breakdown. If it had not been for her mother's exorbitant medical bills, Corrie would never have approached Damon, nor would she ha

from five years ago. It was the exact same novel Corrie had secretly ghostwritten for her. Damon had promised Corrie that if she wrote just one more book for Kara, she could finally publish under her own name. That was why Corrie had rushed backstage to find Kara that ni

p pain flare in her chest, making it difficult to breathe. Corrie shook her head with a bitter smile, mocking her

timid voice tug

e looked down at her two children. A profound

and. Sitting on top of the suitcases

fingers flew across the screen of an iPad, lines of comple

. Stella had big, timid eyes. She hugged a worn-out stuffed rabb

t. Mael was a fiercely loyal friend and a former mercenary who owed Corrie his life after s

ne small, firm hand and pushed against Mael's chest.

rubbing the back of his neck. He quickly

ay, heading toward a high-end

in the living room, Corrie walked into the master

, logging into an offshore, encrypted bank account. She stared at the long string

remier nursing home in New Jersey. She paid the massive monthly

ael, "Studio's lease is signed. The SoHo

p. It was from Yara, the execu

l pitch meeting tom

ely after. This one was from a

for the final outline of the

he bestselling mystery author, was exhausting. But the money and the power were the only armor she had to protect her family. The jewelry stu

led. The door pus

mall hands. He walked to the desk, stood on his tipt

king screen before s

llars today," Leo said, his voice completel

ulled her genius boy into her lap an

for adults to solve,

her chest. "Why did we hav

y went compl

ng into her lungs hit her. The phantom sensation of

York has the best pediatric specialists in

a child, studied her face. He knew she was lying. But he didn'

tossed and turned

he black glove was pulling he

jamas. Her hand flew to her chest, her fingers trembling as they

e applied a bold red lipstick, masking the pale exhaustio

ide. She parked in front of the wrought

. She straightened Leo's tie

your sister," C

ierce, protective glare. "I

heavy security doors. She turned around, pulling her ca

for her car

rned the corner and rolle

vision caught the

for a full second. The blood drain

, and slammed the door shut. She ducked down, pressing her chest h

lided past he

ace. But it wasn't just his face that paralyzed her. A sudden gust of wind carried his scent through her open air vent. The he