turned to the maid and told

lm, detached tone. "Wrap yourse

e. "I'll be alright. This o

this kind of concern. The sudden warmth felt less like co

ooled bet

s on, and Noree

een gone for two years now. In all that time, you and Caiden have hardly spent a day toget

lowered, listening but refus

r had a daughter of my own-only Caiden. But watching him l

fered back then, Caiden and Jessica would've married long a

ponded, her tone flat. She could al

You grew up in this house. Affection grows naturally when people live together. Even if I've been hard on you

back, slipping free of Ivy's gr

d taken her in, Ivy had n

spent most of the year in the hospital, Nore

a luxury. Ivy's kindness only su

n might as well have been a

Ivy's expression van

t something contaminating on her skin. "You've been married for three years and still haven't had a child," she sai

h her eyes. "If I'd known you couldn't give me grandchildren, I would

h escaped Nor

insisted they enjoy their time alone, and c

arning. The distance grew so wide that they hadn't even shared a b

s curving in a faint, dismissive smile. "You and Caiden never had any real feelings to begin with. The person he loves has alw

But if you insist on being stubborn, don't blame me for doing things the hard way. We've known each other f

ke a blade, leaving a sharp, breat

ails biting into flesh until the sti

steady. "Don't worry.

Noreen's head snapped up, and she caught sight of him

suit on his tall frame accentuating the hard lines of his face.

or mine?" His voice was low,

he sudden pushback knock

doing this for your own good. Why can't you recognize what's best for you? Jessi