heir eldest son, Desmond. For years, he promised me a future, a
e would propose, he introduced me to
rt me. I fell for him, only to discover I was just a pawn in his game-he was se
gan parents announced they were marrying me off to a disa
ancée, and I watched as both brothers-the man I once loved and the man who
business asset, and ultimately, a sacrifice the
a stranger, I took out my phone and deleted every last trace of the
pte
gainst her ribs. The grand Morgan family dining room was set for two
s. For years, their love had been a secret, a stolen thing in a house where she
d promised a special evening, a real d
rble hall. Dallas turned,
mile
ook of his arm. Chelsea Taylor. The daughter of a tech CEO, beautiful and co
cool, the same voice he used in boar
r like a physic
g else in Chelsea's eyes, though-a brief, possessive assessment that was gone as quickly as it appeared. She fel
o meet you, Chelse
t shake. She wa
ce like honey. "Desmond has told me so muc
The words were
est room, Desmond found Dallas in the garde
meeting her eyes. "It's a merger. Bil
he whispered, the w
is jaw tight. "I thought you, o
n understanding, convenient part of the family struc
" she said, he
eved. "Good. I
f the house, leaving her alone in the dark.
ansion like a phantom for days, her heart a numb, heavy stone in her chest. She ate when told, smiled when expected, and died a
anda, staring into the manicured gardens,
e you could u
amily's free spirit, a musician with a charming smile and an easy laugh that
his jacket over her should
at his touch but
said softly, his voice full
ed herself to cry sudd
umb gently stroking her arm. "I've watched you for years, Dalla
at him, at his earnest, handsome face, and a tiny, fragile
Desmond. He was warm, at
songs he'd written "just for her," and listened for hours as she poured out her heartbre
y, carefully
rvatory he'd rented. He knew she loved the star
ng beautiful," he said, his
't like Desmond's calculated, possessive kisses. I
ispered against her lips. "
he fell into his arms, into a relationship that felt like a lifeline. She