, looking like he was

r palm, forced a polite smile

, she walked right past hi

n in a sharply tailored suit, a choice that

immediately-this wasn't the sa

. Evans, the marketing re

mask. He signed the doc

word, noting that Simon was still standin

shed into the elevator that he finally

't even flicker. Simon's co

en accommodating, nev

er place, he would ma

na tipped her head back, f

nyway, tracing silent p

enough. Enough for him to see her

ll been wish

she could never compet

ed her cheeks dry. Only the unnatural pallor of

break room, needing a cup of

of conversation just be

e news? Valerie

t, w

famous designer. And the only woman our CEO has eve

ors between Mr. Eva

armer. Mr. Evans never even acknowledged her. The way she ca

a's lips. They all saw it mor

ne foolish enough

m of being Mrs. Evans fin

It was Chloe Williams, Cayden's cousin.

overheard the goss

a turned to leave, but Chlo

ow that Valerie's back, do you really think Cayd

ction, Chloe pressed on, her

ddies? With your talents in sex, what difference

y calm. "This is a corporate office, not a brothel. If you're looking to p

u..

nna was essentially

twisted

the entire cup of scalding

ely threw her hands up, but the boiling liquid splashed across

in and anger. "Are y

crowd of onlookers only s

't you be so smug! Everyone knows yo

g slap cut off the

never, ever imagined the quiet, long-suff

her voice. "You... you actu

oldly. "Someone had to

ng, but she would never allo

ousin, she was used to being fawned ov

bit

d forward, her hand rais

ready. She caught Chloe's

, and her frantic struggling o

indlessly, "Who do you think you

with every shout, the crowd

oug

e noise. Cayden had just stepped out of hi

e fell over th

r cousin was notoriously strict; even her own mothe

er of courage. Pointing at her own red, swollen cheek, she whine

ow, carving Cayden's features int

ianna's nose, a mix of injustice a

ply. "Ms. Briggs, have you forgott

ical weight, pressing t

silence hung

slender figure held ramrod straight. D

the office was not a stage for her emotions, a

d. She could even

to ask him if he had heard what Chlo

, was nothing mor

den appeared, but a few bold ones lingered at a

l gaze made her

ghting the overwhelming urge to break.

e of the Evans Group, I s

e lifted her chin in smug triumph.

lear and steady. "That slap was pers

e her, she turned on her heel and walke

. you

e contorted

ver been so thoroughly humiliated, especia

ces wouldn't be enough

e hit me and she's still acting so high and might

a's retreating figure, a dark

he said, his v

g that Cayden hadn't immediately defended Elia

r Elianna. "Next time," she hissed through gritted

hl

s narrowed d

n down Chl

ll only say this once. Keep your petty

a, Chloe swallowed every vicious

it..." she

away, he gave a command to Derek behind him. "From n

ry favor. "A company this big needs

rd, gesturing pointedly toward the e

person. She tried to run after Cayden, but security guards, summone

ruggled, but the gu

..

lianna changed into a

d over her, a heavy, cold grie

nded, she found Derek bloc

had an urgent matter to attend t

na re

lind. Now, she saw that..

r have come with her to vi

r was about to help her grandmother with dinner. E

nth, a routine checkup revealed pancreatitis. Against her protests, E

ew nothing about h

d wanted to give her grandmother a happy surpri

Elianna left the room and stood by the

lack luxury car rolled to

in Elianna's chest. That

come all thi

hurt and humiliation

't that mean that somewhere, deep

ened, and Cayde

ard him, her heart

next second

of the car, bent down, and carefully, so tenderly, lif

es were tight with

a's face. A sharp, shattering pain ripped through