ls were ruined, my coat was soaked through, and I was shivering uncontrol

nd exhaustion. The sound of laughter and music drifted from the

en I s

le. She was sitting on a plush armchair, a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. He wa

e. That was t

nts and his siblings, were all the

ew got to you in time," his mother s

in the doorway, a mess of w

er rushed over. "We were so worried

that," I said,

re it was replaced with his usual charming smile. "There

alousy was plain on her face as Matthew' s family fussed over me, helping me out of my wet coat and g

o some dry clothes I kept at the estate. I was towel

d her, a smug smile on he

rat," she said, her voi

you want

by you' re carrying? It' s mine. Matthew loves me. He' s always loved me.

o hurt, and they did. But

whisper. "You were just a convenient, respectable womb. Once my baby is

to get a reaction. I wouldn'

bout Matthew?" I asked, m

r a second. "What ar

king onto hers. "His heart attack

er face, and then, a cruel, knowing

verage. An old business secret about the Lesters. He used it to make sure Matthew helped him sabotage that big deal your father was c

was just the broken engagement. But it was Ma

t almost brought me to my knees. But th

sn't breaking, I was hardening. A flash of panic c

e spat, her voice rising.

to silenc

eact, she screamed. A loud, piercing shriek. Then she dragged the sharp p

help me! She' s t

ry. He saw Nicole on the floor, clutching her bleeding arm. He s

sk. He didn'

He strode across the room and slapped me, hard. The force of it sent me

se. If you don' t get your act together and check yourself into a clinic

e of shock and horror, all of it directed at me. No one def

esh, and dragged me out of the room, down the stairs,

hind me, the sound echoing the fin