Jewel Of His Heart: Who Knew Love Could Be So Treacherous?

hadows, lit only by the weak, inte

the alley when a hand grabbed her arm, ya

steadily against the wall. The moment they spotted Cathryn, predatory grins

sent waves of terror through her, and she twist

she screamed, her voice

slap, the sound cracking t

ne dripping with malice. "You dared to cross the

ming to save you tonight, sweetheart. Scream all you want; you'

..

ed up, its polished exterior gleaming even in the dim light. A window rolled down slowly,

voice calm but questioning. "Sh

didn't even blink, his expres

lothes hung limply from her frame, and the sight of t

ied out, her voice cracking as

defiance, and struck her face hard. His grip

hope slipping away, the car that had b

o tall men stepped out w

s plain white shirt crisp and unadorned by any lo

ess like a blade, his sharp gaze fixed on

ce, he heard the sound of her soft

ed at something bu

hed veneer of his eyes as he squinted. "Rylan, g

stant, rushed into the corner, their sud

tsteps, the drunken men froze,

one of them sneered, his bravado tinged with drunken

the slaps, forced her eyes to

on Wheeler, who was now

cold, simmering fury, his gaze locking onto her w

f deeper terror washing over Cathryn,

her purse off the ground and bolted, her heart

flesh and the pained screams of the drunkard

aze of the dark alleyway. Finally, she stumbled into a bustling street, the gl

gasped for breath, her mind

e'd be gone for five years. So w

was dark, and she had been hidden in the shadows

old and detached as him bo

of him, he wouldn't spare them a second glance. So w

had already been humble enough in front of him once. She

r disheveled clothes and forced herself fo

ring suddenly br

r aunt Jenna Wheeler's clipped tone. "Grayson's retur

as she replied softly, "I have classes tomo

With just one word, he can determine your future. He can set you up with a golden bache

s Wheeler, Grayson's elder brother. Barely in her twenties, she had stepped into the role of stepmother

answered firmly, "Aunt Jenna,

f you don't return tomorrow, I'll go visit your mother's gra

ad before Cathry

her walk with the weight of the

she noticed her phone had been on silent. Three mis

moment, she tap

she inquired cautiously, her v

ld, familiar voice broke through. "So

s Gra

g. How did he have her number? Sh

r voice to remain steady. "Sir, I be

ded the call, her hand trembling sl

o. In her dreams, Grayson's piercing, blood-red eyes loomed over her like a predat

circles beneath her eyes, the remnants o

messages from Jenna, all urging he

ht blue dress and brushing on a tou

Her heart eased slightly when she saw that, aside from the

er Mansion, the sun was high in t

room, she adjusted her dress, her che

uncomfortably to her forehead. She felt da

he waved her hands in front of her f

black Maybach rolled smoothl

eliberate slowness, revealing a

sculpted for precision. A silver ring adorned the inde

travel-sized pack of tissues,

egance that carried an underc

er chest as her gaze followed the hand upward,

s Gra

lently, its rhythm be

ough his eyes left no corner for her to retreat or hide. Her trembling hand reached for th

o long on her lips-soft, inviting, and unintentionally captivating. A fleeting flicker of

ough time had reversed, pulling t