a

he dead, with a headache so

light above her. Her mouth was dry, with a bitter, meta

to massage her head, bu

nd a loud clank of metal

s snapp

t hallway of Ewan's pr

t in a small, bare room that smelled

ran down

one. Instead, she was wearing a thin, scratchy white pati

th thick straps of leather. Another pair secu

ne

near the pillar, the gloved hand pressed over her

t hurting as she raised her voice.

e iron bed frame screeched noisily ag

ears of frustration filling h

time

specialist was supposed to arrive at six that m

ight there with him. If she did

ink she'd a

t the straps until the leather dug pa

she heard a

om the door at th

ze as the h

roat tight with panic. "I've

or swu

o the room, followed by the hem o

s her

the words dyin

e her. She had the same dark hair, the s

man standing before her looked perfectly put together. Her lips were

her twi

ie whispered, he

nd walked towards the bed. As she drew close

e and

diately. It was a personal

. "Nobody can hear you down here. And even i

, desperately trying to un

cuffs. "Did someone attack you too? Who brought us

d the sound made Va

ng down at Valerie with disgust. "Oh, catch u

Valerie stopped pull

are you tal

cured hand down the front of Valerie's coat. "You're going to be

ook with anger. "Untie me right now! Ewan is

nessa interr

ail until her face was on

ay goodbye before headi

om tilt around her.

nessa glanced at the gold watch on her wrist. "And as the wo

rage blurring her vision. "You can't do thi

e fading. "He knows the fool who sat beside his bed while he couldn't see. Ewan Shaw

d tapped a sharp nail

bandages, I'll be the one sitti

her strength. The bed shook violently. "He'll know the difference!

man looking for the woman who saved his life. From today on, that wom

tened and let o

bs of the family company with your little beakers and formulas,

, her eyes narrow

ink Ewan Shaw showed up at our chemical facility late that night for som

caught in her t

he explosion was planned. He was supposed to burn to ashes inside our plant so his family's contracts could be rewrit

ened as the pieces be

in the hallway carrying a bag.

ter in horror. "You planned th

," a deep voice sai

d snapped tow

ied in his pockets. He wore a suit, and hi

r throat. "Dad, listen to what she's saying! Va

father said flatly, as if

ed back

anessa. He didn't even glance at Valerie's bru

were drowning in debt. Powerful people wanted Ewan Shaw out of the way

her cheeks. "Wait, no. Y-you let someone bomb

arrangement. You weren't supposed to be there that night. The people who paid for that explosion are

ed down at

for the bombing, Valerie. W

breath cau

and fled the country," Victor said calmly. "And the sweet, brave Valerie Rose who

ing. "Then why lock me up?! I saved him! If you want

his eyes cold. "Because

left her s

enthouse, you'd help Ewan investigate the explosion. And the moment yo

essa before looki

s family. You've always been too soft, Valerie. So Vanessa gets your life,

began to trickle from her wrists. "Ewan loves me! I'll tell him everythi

impatiently. "We need to go, Dad. Morning traffic

rning his back on Valeri

bed dragged against the floor. "Look at me! Don't leave me here! Vanessa!

opped at t

a sweet, sickening smil

Valerie's coat over her shoulders. "I'

ut and the lock tur

eather cuffs, screaming Ewan's name into