mentarily eclipsing her despair. Then a harsh,

ht setup, but a far more ambitious shakedown. Marry h

ushing herself to her feet. Her legs fe

n didn't try to stop her. He simply watched her go, a thoughtful expression on his face. For years, women had thrown themselves at h

she was in her car in the parking garage, the engine rumbling to life.

ges and sprawling mansions. Each mile brought her closer to the gilded cage she

r, hoping to make it to her room unnoticed. But as she passed the form

elf into the shadows beh

ced with smug satisfaction. "She's probably still passed out in some gutter. There

amazing job, dear. Lawson Corp. is bleeding money, and Knight has promised an infusion of capital. Y

"And once she's married to that old creep, everyth

d, her tone dripping with false aff

o Hailey's bones, extinguishing the l

ago, expression serene and kind. Her mother, who had built this company from the grou

rst marriage was an afterthought. Now that it was failing, sh

of ice, and slipped out of the house to her

d through the pa

about her and fell in love with Isabelle. It was ridiculous that she had taken care of him for half a year, whi

way to make him remembe

ce loved her. Maybe some part of him still existed beneath the blank slate

she really had no other choice. No matter

If he still couldn't remember her, the

spital, her heart pounding

about to go in, she noticed that Isa

e perched on the edge of his bed, peeling an apple for him w

rise, immediately looking like a startled fawn. Carter's gaze followed, and when he saw Ha

his voice flat-the voice of a stran

y struggled to breathe. "Carter, I... I need yo

instantly produced tears. "She's doing it again. She's jus

sabelle had painted her masterpiece. He wrapped

ice laced with protective anger. "Stop

e were dirt on his shoe. He thought she was a stalker, a liar, a pathetic creature trying to st

ope died in that

the tears fall until she was back in the solitude of her car, engine off

her father's secretary: The ca

ho

matter how insane. She opened a social media app, navigating to an anonymous classifi

egistration, generous compensation.

st her ribs. It was a shot in the dark-