turned her head, and the kiss landed on h

ut her words were for everyone in the room, for the closed study door behind which her fate was be

eyes finding Desmond's as he emerged from the study, drawn by the commotion. "I wa

pen in shock. He couldn't believe she was

of her situation. She was a charity case who had dared to love. She was a pawn who had been playe

family," she said, her voice eerily c

followed Desmond out, looked horrified. Antone was pa

whispered, breaking the spell. "De

ould not let this spiral into a public family scandal. "This

er, but a deep, possessive hurt. He was wounded, not by her suppo

ice low and menacing, "disgrace h

no. If anyone is to be punished

And I'm done with it. I'm done with you." She looked directly at Antone, her g

heart of the Morgan empire, where Mr. Morgan was waiting. It was a pla

hocked cry and Desmond

nd his massive desk like a king on his th

n with them for decades, entered with a thick legal documen

s as an adopted member of this family. You will relinquish the Morgan name and any clai

the page, a white-hot and blinding pain, shot throu

own blood. She would not cry. She w

me: Dallas Cole.

ean, threatening to pull her under. Through a haze, she saw two

back across the desk, she collapsed

take?" Mr. Morgan's v

mming. She looked past him, at the tw

raw, broken rasp. "My mistake... wa

the world