e's swollen eyes. A team of makeup artists shoved her down in front of the van

eless porcelain doll. A wave of sickness hit her stomach. She shov

rtha's dropping oxygen levels from the morning medical report. The thr

layered wedding gown over her head. The tight corset dug into

They practically shoved her into the back of a black Lincoln str

ows. She gripped the silk fabric of her dress. Her nails presse

e stone gates of the Sterling estate. High stone walls and security ca

ed, pulled the door open. He looked down at Chloe. Hi

e walked up the cold marble steps. The sharp click of her heels

ase. She stopped a few steps from the bottom, looking down her nose at Chl

ial and non-disclosure agreement. The weight of the documen

ve with nothing, and she was legally bound to take the family's sec

imbing the social ladder. The biting words sparked a sudden heat

me with quick, aggressive strokes and tossed the pen back onto

o the master bedroom on the top floor. She warned Chloe

lway. Antique oil paintings lined the walls. The painted

oors and pushed them open. A thick wave of sterile al

ut curtains blocked out the sun completely. T

eyes landed on the massive medical bed in the cen

an from his arms to the machines beside the bed. The rhythmic bee

sk that covered the upper half of his face. The exposed lower

led up from his collarbone, disappearing under the mask. The

k into the hall, and pulled the door shut. The heavy thud of the mahogany sealing them

den, heavy wave of sadness washed over her. They were both

touch his cold fingers resting on top of the blan

. She looked at the unmoving man. She whispered that she was

itch. Chloe gasped and jumped to her feet. Her legs hit

rd at the man's face, her chest heaving. He didn't

. She told herself the stress was making her see t

alk-in closet to strip off the suffocating wedding dress. Sh