behind her, the latch clicking shut with a sound of finality. The noise of

ence of

the guests, spinning a tale of Avery's emotional instabili

her reflection in the mirror. The face looking back was hers, but younger. The fine lines of stress around her

caped her lips, s

ath a velvet tray of earrings lay a stiff, cream-colored envelope. The marriage certificate. And tuc

uptial a

amily business for Leo's future. She, a 25-year-old woman in love, had believed him. She hadn't cared about the clauses that stripped her of any claim to his fortune, that stipul

ol. A willing lam

Bennett stood there, his face a thundercloud. He had le

ed, his voice low and menacing. "You

d at him. The perfectly tailored Tom Ford suit, the Patek Philippe watch, the handso

dangerously soft. "Or I interrupted yo

lenged. "Celine is a friend of the family. You will treat her

ing. The CEO of Carlisle Group,

the last thread of her o

e, and slammed it down on the marble top of t

urprised by the vio

rd a faint commotion from the living room-a child's cry, a woman's shriek

chin, her eyes

t a di

ain processing the words. Then he let out

hen he felt a situation slipping from his control. "Don't be pathetic, Avery. If this is

ckage. The thought was so insulting, so utterly Bennett, that she didn't even

, dripping with fake concern, drifted down th

h blood, returned with a vengeance. The air in this room felt

ace larger than her first apartment. It was lined with racks of designer

l bag from a top shelf, a bag she'

Back to your parents? They can't afford to keep you in the style you've become accustomed to. You'll be back

d a few sets of underwear. She stuffed them into the bag. Her eyes swept over the velvet-lined tra

lamed. The hysterical wife who "caused" the incident. No. Let them handle their own mess. Self

l bag shut. The soun

er brushing his expensive suit. She didn't

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