l over the rim of her glass and cascade across the polished surface. With a gas

. Shit! Had she just mad

med in, his voice attempting lightness. He stood and reached for Ar

Owen's voice sliced through the air, chilly and detached. "My assi

ble, a deceptive half-smile playing on his lips while his piercing eyes held her in a fro

s hand dry, Owen's eyes darkened to

ious to the tension, diving back into their

, creeping ever closer, his presence increasingly oppressive. Arabella edged aw

leading look toward Owen, ho

rs tapped an absent rhythm on the table-a signal of simmering ir

air, yet Arabella sat rigid, her discomfort as palpa

she didn't want Blaine to continue to harass her. The tension t

ers with unsettling familiarity. "Mr. Murray, I've always been intrigued by sign language. Per

e etiquette, she understood all too well that Blaine's request crossed a line. She was not just Ow

stone. Arabella's heart hammered against her ribs, her

her to the bone. "Of course, feel free," he said,

en's disdain, but bartering her so dismissively with Blaine was a cruelty she had

epped before her, his hand heavy on her shoulder. "Ms. Butcher, Blaine is keen on learning sign la

r alone. "You want your father to receive medical parole, d

ht of Owen's cruel, indifferent expression. It felt like invisible

ike an eternity, she slowly uncurled her fingers and resigned herself to the situation. Kristian's health was on a rapid declin

lenched her fists once more, he

d, her voice dripping with a forced admiration. "Regarding

. His self-satisfied chuckle reverberated behind them, sound

s shadowed and inscrutable, watch

Blaine's hands were cruelly at Arabe

dy collapsing, utterly devoid of strengt

laughter erupted again, loud and mocking. "I knew it! Owen couldn't resis

r. Her limbs flailed against the grim reality, her heart pounding wildly in her chest. No! Even

-now you're suddenly playing tough?" Blaine's vo

t him with every ounce of her strength. But Blaine was impos

ssed you along to me." Blaine's sneer widened. "Ha-ha... Owen sure knows

eyes as she mentally cried out, "Let go! Let

her, yielding nothing but silence. She had never de

am, would anyone even hear? Would anyone care to help? Despair cloaked her, as hea

clared, "I've never fucked a mute before. This s

fought back fiercely, earning he

rated through Arabella's skul

nce of her resolve, Arabella seized a lamp from the nightstand, clenched her t

laine as he instinctively clu

him back, landed a swift kick to h

furious shouts filled the air as he gave chase. Arabella's heart pounded with fear as she sprinted, her

oors gleamed l

f she could just reach

y slid open with an unexpected whoosh. There, like a specter from her nightmares, stood O

hat the hell? Wasn't Owen supposed to have left? Why was he back now? There was nothing

at Owen, tears streaming down her face, her eyes drowning in sorrow, despair, and

. "Got you now, you little bitch! Ha!" The voice was unm

, his eyes alight with cruel intent, his mouth twisted into a sinister grin. In a moment driven by raw instinct and desperate