dy experience. She sat still, her posture elegant and composed, wearing a deep emerald dress that hugged her like an old secret. Her fin
retending that she hadn't once been the woman every ey
n Wes
ed her at the sound of his voice-even now, muf
clenched with restraint. His black hair was a little shorter than before, his shoulders broader, h
ng it were strong enough to
ldn't ha
his event had been pitched as a professional opportunity. Nothing more. She'd
inded of the life she once had. The woman she u
settlement. Just her pride, and even that felt paper-thin some days. The tabloids had speculated everything from inf
ng Damien, she
ri
e straightening befo
compass. Tonight, she wore blood-red heels and carried herself lik
" Maddie said, looping an a
odded.
housand-yard stare while the man who broke
ryly. "That d
said. "He keeps
eath out of her.
again-turning ever so slightly, her eyes flicke
looking
Just quiet intensity. Like he saw her. L
turne
have come," s
nger than you think. And beca
ding slowly. "Ye
d in. "You w
hesit
s when sh
peakers. "Please welcome the man behind tonight's ca
use e
a f
ortrait of calm and command. He didn't speak for a moment, lett
CEO. I'm here because someone once taught me that art... isn't just about beauty. It's about trut
ng p
. And I've spent years
stomach
on her name. He
m knew exactly who h
ia didn't hear it. She stood up, heart racing, body
alked
Past the waiters.
the wall, closing her eyes against the mem
Damien Westwood had always been the
, he wa
in the
n her
ai