na's

mic beeping of medical equipment. My entire body felt l

of Simon Graves, Ryan's personal assistant, stand

Simon said, his voice betrayin

ere?" I asked, trying t

near the shore and called emergency services. You had seve

asked, my voice

ping, the phone call, my desperate escape

kwood is... attending to some important matters. He aske

ss in my che

bothered to sit by my bedside. Three years of marria

quietly. "You can go no

odded and l

ied to accept that Ryan didn't love me, but I couldn't help trying to conv

door suddenly

but when I looked up, I saw a familia

n, her face arranged in a mask of

ical concern, clutching a bouquet of lilies-

use has been absolutely be

eathe before continuing

n the family's reputation is on the line. His wife gett

, watching her pe

ery," she said, arranging the lilies wher

bruising.Ryan's been awfully anxious about

e was suggesting I had someh

" I asked coldly, my voice

cerity. "I only came because... seeing you reminds

I said, my voice like ice

d. Her eyes swept over me, "I just th

oser, her voice dro

quite a bit from this, so thank you for your gift. I hope yo

precisely where she inten

an knows his duty to the family includes main

ven feel anger anymore. "Is there s

ou about the charity gala last night. Ryan made such a generous donat

e apartment where Sophie and

ering to the floor between us. The screen illuminate

he most exclusive venue in the city-his arms wrapped intim

while I had been fighting for

r phone. "How clumsy of me. You sh

eeding, my husband had been taking my kidnapping as an oppor

side me fina

ife, of accepting crumbs of attention from a man who had never

Hart across her smug face, the crack of skin aga

," I hissed, my voic

y husband for three years? How many times have you 'accidentally' touch

ening cheek, her eyes wide

kwood stood in the threshold, his

ance was slightly disheveled,

e-Ivy clutching her cheek, me sitting uprigh

my bedside, his hand clamping ar

you're doing?" he growled,

I'd never done before. "Exactly what I shoul

ommanded, his voice dropping to that dangerou

g had change

ce, or perhaps it was the final, unden

s command washed ov

d, beaten, and fighting for my life, you were taking her to

-the only hint that my defia

."I've already told you-we're not what you th

r stand-in? Your replacement wife? The convenien

arled, his fingers tig

fully. "She's clearly traumatized from

and on Ryan's arm made me want to vomit. More disgu

hanging the subject. "Simon will arrange for a car to take you home. O

eds is gossip about their lady being k

ellbeing. No questions about what had happened. Just orders

y, my voice steady despite the storm