w at Stella's words and

slightly, his voi

ep Sophie from seeing me, all so you can use that as leverage to kick Isabelle out, right?

tone turn

that fanta

to a cold, bitter smile

es around you, huh? Let me make it clear-what I

er. She had to be the one to

ap back when a loud voice in

d at him,

right now! Look what you've done-broken her heart like

Wasn't it her who iced him out first, swearing he'd ne

o marry into the family. She'd do anything to get what she wa

n he noticed Old Mrs. Hart's face had gone deathly p

yed trapped i

evened out just enough to t

y heart can't handle this nonsense. One more

nted to say. To keep her from collapsing, he dropped h

a, I'm

y insi

pologized to could be counted on one hand. Whether it meant

him, sarcasm da

ogy. I just want one th

kept coming out of her m

his chest, something cr

brushed it off, prete

ped forward and roughly grabbed

oice low and threat

u'd better behave. If Grandma gets sick again because of you, can you live with that? You're seriously cold. Draggi

too tight a grip. She leaned closer an

ay. All I want is to end this marriage. As for the five million, I'l

rs. Hart lingering. But when she saw them standing that close-almost like a cou

ook at you two-doesn't seem like there's any bad blood at all. It's

s at the exact same time and b

caught off guard-not least Char

nd time Stella ha

play-hard-to-get routine. Even i

ing tight as her breathing grew shallow. Her voice was weak as she gasped, "Are

r condition getting worse, the two of th

distanced herself from Charles. Her guard was all

m a glare and said coldly, "Charles, don't come near me. Don't

ch you? Relax. You act like you're worth the trouble. That used to

ed, stiffly laid down, and yanked the blanket ov

ionally and physically. After everything she'd gone thro

s, with only their soft bre

ody, making her whole person feel restless and uncomfortabl

ping through him. His mind was getting fuzzy, a

he snapped awake, eyes wide. Panic

ice trembled with panic, edged with

sense. Instead of letting go, he w

hard on his arm. The taste of blo

his grip, and Stella scrambled free, half-crawling

r breath. Her hair stuck to her flush

Old Mrs. Hart had definitely

r down. Once, it was Charles

she could bring herself to have any physical intimacy wi

ee like he was some kind of monster. The i

she going to

whole playing-hard-to-get ac

gettin