ock replaced by a familiar coldness.

opping to a low, dangerous tone

replied calmly. "I he

, and a muscle would twitch in his cheek. He always thought his

th things over, desperate to bring back the calm, indifferent

I felt nothing. No fear. No anxiety.

ng my patienc

ug. "The necklace is mine.

e to crumble, to apologize, to obey. My quiet de

ice laced with venom. "James, t

y for thirty years, went pale.

this house. You'll do as I say, or you'll be look

eard is the

voice echoing in the large room. "Everything in

y and fear. Adrian's family was powerful. A

esitant ste

ch me," I said, my

s fr

grabbed my arm, his fingers digging into my

against his chest. "L

me for Cassie, filled me with a rage that burned away the last fiv

my neck, the delicate chain breaki

e returning to a gentler

cent eyes, now put on a show of concern. "Adrian, don't be li

issively, not even looking at me. "I

ut another word, he took her hand and walked out of the penthouse, leaving

ng. The eyes of the household staff were

not give him the satisfaction. I walked slowly, deliberately, to m

ut a broken nail. The time he gave a speech at a major tech conference and thanked everyone in his life but forgot to mention me, even t

nced myself that I was too sensitive, that I was the problem. I

s a

ot an

wasn't unusual. He often stayed out, and

assie's latest social media post. It was a picture of her, wearing my necklace.

ee the familiar decor of Adr

piral of tears and anxiety. I would have called him a hu

hints of her time with Adrian-a glimpse of his watch, his car, a location only

had cried. I had fought with Adrian, who wou

. A small, humorless smile touched my lips. It was almost

er for what she was: a petty, insecure woman cli

have ea

on that plane. All I wan