thick duvet, the impact muffled. The humiliation was a phy

g. To be reprimanded by his grandfather lik

r. He needed to reclaim some sembl

is own wedding feeling like a costume for a farce. He pul

e door. It was his olde

underous expression. "Alaric, don't do anything rash," he sa

night? You mean the night I was shackled to a wom

person," Theo argued gently. "Mayb

his wallet and the keys to his McLaren.

nd staircase when Mr. Hayes

ful but firm. "Theodore Sr. requested th

him," he said, his voice dangerously low, "that if he wants to see the Roy famil

one thing his grandfather valued less

, a guttural snarl that shattered the peaceful silence of the estate. He floored the acc

shed helping Aracely out of her wedding dress. The heavy

it-the violent scream of

me to see a pair of red taillights streak th

as g

bandoned her on t

wasn't heartbreak. It was the profound, soul-crushing

the door brok

t the doorframe, arms crossed, a

night as a married woman." She savored the words, letting them hang i

g tears, or anger, or so

t none

Then, slowly and deliberately, she closed the door in Jea

against the solid wood, the mask of strength finally falling away, lea

city lights a blur. He was heading for his private