hing for the hidden angle. "What

nth," she murmured, forcing her voice to thicken with tears. "If this is the only thing h

maternal love. A mother willing to swallow her humiliati

ty was unnatural to her-pathetic and we

ced with suspicion, probing for cracks in Chloe's fa

glassy calm that even Eleanor couldn't re

stability of the Carlisle lineage trumped all moral conc

mmanding. "Aidan, open this door. Grandma promises you. We will

eat of silence followed, then

lotchy and swollen. He looked right past Chloe as if

?" he w

lies to you," E

umphant grin. "Yay! This is t

rs to call Scarlett and share the news. He didn't

a curt nod. "As you wish," she murmured, gli

n the hallway, a sta

irthday pr

brutal severing of the umbilical cord. She had given up her life for him. She had endured five years drowning in

Chloe was extinguished. It didn't just die; it was suffoc

exhilarating s

inct to protect his feelings-it was all gone. He

ty d

Chloe's mind, it was a countdown. Thirty days to gather every encrypted file, siphon

ps were even, her back straight. She closed the door

rden. Aidan was jumping up and down on the lawn, a

felt n

g the interface to open the secure

days. Initiate preparations

ving nothing behind but ruins-liquidating assets, crashing servers, and exposing every corrupt secret to

the Director

confirm your status.

cated woman with empty eyes was gone. Staring back at

, her fingers flyin

been cl