ered on Adeline's forehead a

t with one hand, reach

ed Waylon with a dagger, al

d it upward, following the curve of her smooth calf, his eyes gleaming with a twisted sense of exci

ed if he intended to dissect her while she was still alive. She tr

e last five years, Adeline was well a

ajor industries. Since his birth, expectations were high for him to accomplish great things. Tragically, a car accident at the age of five claimed his mother's life and led to his disappearan

Holden family. He carried the arrogance expected of a wealthy heir, but it was sharpened by a kind of cruelty that set him apart. He spent his time preying on actresses, tormenting those who worked b

the powerful Holden family to declare that Waylon suffered from a mental

y, yet his level of corruption was beyond her expectations. Being the last remai

er foot in place, there was no way to escape. All she could do

neath the edge of her white dre

t as her breathing faltered, and ever

ice interjected sharply, br

clear instructions. She told me to remind you not to do anything reckless and to marry Ms. Sullivan immedi

man who schemed her way into my bed?" Wayl

mentarily s

ftly withdraw her foot. As she did so, her blindfold fell, and a su

erpetually dark and void, was now tinged with colors through a haze of white. A man's bl

hazy glimpse of his profile-sharp lines and harsh angles. A

"Three days from now falls on a date favored for weddings. Your grandmother pl

e. As he twirled the dagger in his hand, he fixed

lden, I am obliged to deliver this message, even at the risk of my life," he said. "Your grandmot

Waylon, his comple

Waylon. "Your grandmother believes that once you

the phone with an in