nreadable. She quickly recalibrated, letting her shoulders slump and her eyes widen, a convincing portrait of a woman who had just

rring with the memory of her cold, threatening voice in h

rged, his face tired but relieved. "He's stable for now," the doctor announced to th

stling clothes. Julian saw Ellie start to hang back, trying to fade into the background. He wouldn't allo

small and fragile, an oxygen mask fogging with each shallow breath. His eyes, cloudy with pain and medication, scanned th

weak hand, Arthu

wrist from Julian's grasp and moved to the bedside, t

oice barely a whisper, but his eyes were fixed on his son with a fierce intensity

llie's hand holding his. He gave a curt, solemn nod. "I w

g of guilt. The divorce papers are already

et. He pulled it out, his brow furrowing in annoyance. It was a flo

. Citing Arthur's health. He's trying to liquidate th

er was using their father's potential deathbed as an opp

mand. "You stay here. You don't leave this hosp

y, her eyes down

erfect opportunity. The moment his car leaves, I'm gone. I'll take a cab to Teterboro. The jet is

d. He heard the destination, the airport, the timing. Every last detail. H

ital, she would vanish from his life forever, takin

ist this time, but for the nape of her neck. His fingers tangled in her hair as

e protested, her voice a shocked

d, half-pushed her down the corridor and into the

wall. "Stop it," he growled, his face inches from hers. "Stop try

ard the Maybach, yanking open the back door and unceremoniously pu

use," he commanded the driver. "Call the head of security. I want a full detail on that

ce a mask of cold fury. "You can't d

her ears only. "I can," he said softly. "As long as our father is in this hospital, our divorce is o

driver. He turned and strode toward a black SUV that had pulled up behin

the opposite direction, toward Wall Street. A wave of helpless fury washed over her. She picke