Protecting My Vengeful Queen From The Shadows

e world into a watercolor nightmare. Metal groaned around Khloe Haynes, th

her gasp even now. But when her hand flew to her stomach, it met only smooth, whole skin. The memory was the only wound left. Every shal

ctional. And there it was. A news alert, push

emical Heiress Arabella Vanc

ing the custom suit she had spent six months designing and tailoring for him herself, a birthday gift

he contact photo of him. It was a picture she'd t

rang. On

wasn't his voice, but the swell of an orche

nt. The sound of a man annoyed by a distra

nd. The taste of copper filled her mouth. "

ciant's voice in the background,

oday," he said, his tone dropping to

tarting to tunnel, the edges turning dark. "Th

near the receiver. Arabel

voice smoothing out for his n

've gotten yourself into, get yourself out of it. It would be better for everyo

ne wen

ed metal pinning her in place. The phone slipped fro

f their driver. The constant, subtle reminders that she was an outsider, a charity case. Brenda Harding's tight, disapproving smiles. Britteny's habi

stant promise that came too late. Flashing red

different. The Jaws of Life. A man's calm, auth

ou out. Ma'am, c

ned in, rain dripping from the brim of his cap. He was

a to the abdomen. Get a lin

ed her onto a backboard, into the ambulance. The doctor w

a strange coldness spreading from her chest outwards. She reac

t, a final, desperate prayer

ve

her lips. He leaned closer, trying to unders

said, his voice tight

t. No

ga

of the monitor flatlined i

s precise, almost frantic. Finally, he stopped, bre

death, 11

void. The hatred was the only thing lef

, a

. It was a brilliant, blinding glare

th. A real one. D

ened h

nt crystal chandelier, its light refracting into a thousand t

ed down at her hands. No blood. No cuts. Just perfectly manicured nails. Her sto

ing-sized bed and rushed to a

Her face was a canvas of professional makeup, her hair swept into an elegant chignon

he remembered this night. She remembered everything. Her gaze landed on the small

g with tiny bubbles. That champagne. The one Brenton had insisted she drink.

lock on the sui

g with false tenderness,

u ready? Everyone's wai

en

usion in her eyes evaporated, replaced by something ancient and cold. A glacial st

ed towards the mini-bar. Her eyes bypassed the bottles of liquor, the s

s heavy in her hand. So

or all I care-echoed in her mind, not as a

st time, the decanter held firmly at her s

pered to her reflecti