e edge of the bed, my voice emerging as a low, menacing growl. "Brice Smith, you filthy piece of trash. You want to sell me off to keep living your fancy lie? Screw that! Hugh Gilbert

h Brice, the man who viewed me as not

rward, seizing a chair next to the bed with

she dashed forward, grabbing his arm and uttering

socialite, issuing a veiled threat. "There are far more excruciating ways to cause pain than

owed hard, my voice thick with defiance. "Don

fueled by desperation and the wild

apping me aside as if I were nothing more than a rag doll. I tumb

f the nightstand, sending a piercing jolt

my fingers came away coated with blood,

ping with contempt. "You're nothing but an inse

ance, and the scorn in her gaze

ith family, I was merely a bug-insignif

cation as a director, and despite drinking with the clients until my stomach

hree generations in Gruixtin, were courted and flattered by all. W

"Even if I marry into the Saunders family, I will never bow to you or le

ertainty etching her features. "Oh, y

*

stered her audacious certainty, but

I'd whisk my grandmother away and a

xton. I had to clarify things with him face-to-fac

mess, or how he learned Jaxton was the father of my child, was beyond me. And why on ear

ng, and the last thing I wanted wa

on never

ital for an apology, so I clung to that promise with a

den hues of sunrise to the deepening t

chimed midnight, I relin

realized I was just as gu

rd spoken to me as

an of misery, so starved for hope that th

ope, I only sank deeper into the abyss, an ev

ring to tears that soaked it completely,

through the gloom when the doctor d

the discharge formalities on my own, and was on the brink of

tside, a familiar car gl

the back door swung open, and a bodyguard

mily estate. As soon as we arrived, I flung the door open and bolted out. My heart poundin

hoked off i

eniable presence, sat a tall,

e commanded the room effortlessly

et his gaze. Jaxton? What t

ught the gleam of warm, inviting eye

ine, and my heart flut

over there? Come join

undercurrent of contempt bled through,

rd them almost mechanically, my eyes riveted on Jaxton's enig

ubbling with excitement. "Cathy, William and

lt of lightning, leaving a blindi

and managed to stammer, "You..

ne briefly, a frosty

y shock, harshly pulling me

arly misun

ion, his lips barely parting as he icily stated, "Yes, I want

is eyes flaring with outrage as he

ugh me, igniting a sh

claimed he wanted to marry me, yet he in

inful as it was clea

in private?" I asked William, m

Jaxton and I faced each other-

, attempting to break the si

d smile was the prelude to his cutting wo

vulnerable, and then called for help to draw me right into your trap. You revealed our past relationship, made sure everyone knew the child was mine, and mani

disbelief as his words lashed out at me. It fe

sn't the tr

to speak, but the moment was shattered

ic yet insincere. "Sorry to barge in, but C

he room, leaving me to grapple with the turb