ir. I stormed out of the hospital, leaving a bewildered

-thousand-dollar check still clutched in my hand. I didn't have a

's shout, and took the private elevator straight to th

e crossing his face before it settled back into that cold, c

slammed my hands down on the pol

ling his fingers. "Chloe. To what do I owe the pleasure? Did yo

sn't enough. You knew my father's condition was worse. This was all just a gam

"Business is about leverage, Chloe. I simply made you an offer base

e life, this whole damn company, on my concern! You were nothing! A

le. "I'm not sure what delusions you're

ay with two cups of coffee. She stopped short, her eyes wideni

his voice softening as he looked

her face a mask of sweet concern. "Chloe, are you alright? You look

ting than Liam's open cruelty. "St

d, his voice turning to steel. "Sarah is

roken sound. "The situation you creat

.. I don't know what you mean.

our anonymous benefactor was? It was me! I sold my award-winning design, the single most import

a blank slate. He didn't believe me. He thought I w

ou're pathetic, Chloe. Making up these fantasies to

arrative, of my supposed betrayal, that the truth was jus

ice dropping to a low, dangerous whisper. "But I w

ht in front of me. He was taller than I remembered, more imposing.

You will marry Mr. Maxwell, or I will personally call the hospital and ensure your father is moved to the public wa

ir from my lungs. I could feel the blood drain

his touch making my skin crawl. "You see, Chloe," he murmured, "I

created. The fight went out of me, replaced by a cold, hard despair. He had won. He had every card, and I had nothing.