y chin. "What are you doing... Mmm!" I protested, my

ush him away. Burgess's kiss was aggressive and dominating, le

eeks flushed with anger. "You're insane

his expression unreadable. "I'll do it if you dare to provok

I remained silent as he turned to leave, his

der. "By the way, my father's turning fifty the day after tomorrow, and

knowing full well the consequences i

tion, imagining it was Burgess's smug face. But my anger only

was over, the doorbell rang aga

pecting to face Burgess once again. But to

lance up, I muttered, "Burg

d my brow as I looked at the stranger in the white coat.

ntle and reassuring. "You caught a cold after getting soaked in the rain la

like he could always anticipate my every move, and the sensation le

discomfort, I replied lightl

-joking but laced with an underlying seriousness. "Miss Oprah, I have a family to suppo

e threa

ng the cause of someone else's hardship. With a resigned sigh, I re

*

od," the doctor's careful advice lingered in my mind as he departed, leaving me alone on the sofa. Illness had a way of making

nger who silently extended his concern. A bitter smile tugged at my lips as

it, my fingertips came away slick with blood. Frowning, I made my way to the

a thought occurred to me, and I

ease don't send me things anymore or hel

yself and sent another message, "Perha

ut it only served to stok

le," he rep

ble?" I demanded, my

ant to be your man, to have you completely under

pervert

vanished in an instant, replaced by a burning d

ages continued t

t you repl

u feeli

hen you're shy. If you could wear the dress I bo

picture for me? Last night, I came

e number to the blacklist, unable to s

rve

ay arrived before I could blink, and with it

at the estate, despite my complete lack of enthusiasm for the event. Burgess's veiled thr

sigh escaped my lips, only to be interrupted

a familiar figure. It took me a moment to register who she was, but when

t had been three long years since we last saw each other, and

ion that I found difficult to reciprocate. "Oprah, it's be