p from the co

, her head down, her eyes filling

rather walk away willingly than fa

rough the tension as he raised his he

is met at Caden's funeral, and s

gawking at her

mistake. I told her

deepened. "Why w

happened to walk by. After a few years, I hardly recognized

d, her tone turning scolding. "All this over

d quietly

d her to move out, at least he h

yanna spoke again. "Iris, has any boy f

, from the Finance Department, had been

ely and immediately knew

striking appearance

that boys are attracted to you. But never forget what I've taught you-your virgini

down, feeling gui

"Bryanna, do me a favor and prepare a generous gift

to the marks on Vincent's neck. "You're about to set

r the marks, a smirk playing at the co

, hiding the sad

ying in, Vincent

es

the second-floor bedroom r

ervant, finished ti

the door slammed shut, and a

a step back, stumbling o

r, leaving her with

nd commanding. "One

, trying to avoid hi

leave the St

h her dignity, not as someo

e replied, "I need t

just as quickly, he left. The

incent had alread

na called after him. "Wi

ent respon

of the engine roared to life. Tires screec

He just asked me to prepare h

-each night, she came back home, hoping for a chanc

had been abs

ernoon, Gretc

nounced, "Vincent just called-he said the

ed with excitement. "A

es

ose that woman before sh

to be exposed. Panic overwhelmed her, and bef

senses, she was standing ou

rozen, summoning the courage to pre

uld ask about the surveillance f

door cre

eyes but stopped

iful face appeared

ntly recognizable to

nation's top rising star

at had slipped off her shoulder and asked in a voice s

cent couldn't spend

Vincent's deep voic

hair damp against his forehead, a towel hanging

ned quickly, as i

hand graspe

," Vincent said t

n to challenge him. She let out an irritat

against the door. "So you're coming to m

to fight ag

her mouth-forcefu

ments before she had knocked, she believed, Vin

-hard. The taste of blo

is lower lip with his ring finger, lookin

nce, tearing open t

riented. As she stepped inside, Bryanna's

poise of a true lady-every gesture, every expression honed to perfe

to steady her breath

ng as they fixed on Iris's lips

. Her fingers instinct

d, Vincent

m, scrubbing it away. When she retu

mouth, she realized th

ose was it? How had someone els

. it must've been fro

even more. She w

g a piece of cake. "Miss Curtis, you

ke's full of sugar and calories-it'll only

Iris's weight, making sure

Iris replied

e call. She'd n

relax, Laura called out

hat happened to your

ffened a

n them. Vincent's lower lip was sw

ved she wa