Gabriel slowed his pace so that Viviane could

ained dark and brooding. They took a few more steps. Viviane glanced at the little table

nardi. I hope you won't get

s,

e woman, who stood at the door like a statue, listening. "One of the reasons I hired you is be

ed as the tall man spoke about the importan

e go to

he question when she saw Ga

step, then turned back. "There's one more thing-do not override my mother's instructions,

t about

ulge; I don't want my daughter becoming dependent on you during this probatio

eemed so absurd t

ious

d got three stitches in her eyeb

r hand and stared at her feet.

ommanded the

doorknob. Gabriel took a step, then st

et with me for letting you give a gift to Liz. A

prob

tomorrow,

n that penetrating voice ma

night,

room as he walked away. She just wanted to

ne. Did she do the same to Gabriel's wife? she wondered as she removed her dress. S

ecked her email. She opened the spreadsheet with Elizabeth's acti

of a car stop in front of the house. She discreetly opened the curtain, p

rrowed under the covers, hopin

She longed for the day Gabriel would return to Los An

commanding v

up quickly. She panicked, thinking she was late. Alarme

neath her thin white nightgown. Witho

might be as harsh as her ex-husband and

a fool of me,

her chest. Viviane couldn't understa

l me Pietro Müller

had seen before going to sleep. Pietro had pr

w," she said, her

ied to him?" he demanded sarcasti

in response to th

n the day of

to fire the

viane found the courage to

lt is it t

. Gabriel's hair fell over his furrowe

r side of the bed and o

ou think yo

ving!" she

ou're stay

sband already

?" He interru

o you would

oom. Viviane didn't unders

you to stea

ne grabbed the

re i

en my ex-husb

e to believe tha

nd and advanced. He studied the pale face

I had," his voice faltered suddenly. "You're staying h

ders to her soft neck. Horrified, Viviane closed her eyes, fearing the worst.

houted, trying

tried to claim her lips, but she t

ave this house u

hard desire. He claimed her lips in a fi

he pleaded in a

ath and released her. Though he wanted revenge

leave only when your ex-husband shows up with my money," he declared forcefully. "Don't eve

lie!" she

king any action, Vivian!"

ng with anger. She wrapped herself in th

of bed and saw the guard

o her daughter? It would be better to stay to ma

-

es to six. Overcoming her laziness, she threw back the

ouse, matching pants, and shoes-probably the uni

oon as she stepped out, met Yolanda,

ing, Miss

call me

sure I

kers," Vivia

ere a young woman was eating cereal, seated

f the house!" Yoland

ng in a hood over the cooktop, the ove

ay when she saw the couple through the glass

th a beautiful woman whose hair mad

ncakes?" Yoland

es

I'll make th

the golden-skinned girl as she sat,

s!" Yolanda mentioned. "

t's

H

and returned to watchi

ays wakes up in a bad

hen he revealed his white, perfectly aligned teeth. He didn't even seem like the ogre who h

. Welsch'

d to have rea

r who uncovered

air when the girl mention

ective on the phone. Everyone i

cup of coffee and placed

ack of the time. She already

ek. She focused on her breakfast when Gabriel touched the sliding door while sp

oman's problems. Dismiss t

allowed hard at the th

that o

r boss in confusion

t outfit and go to m

ut Liz's

you fifte

Pietro didn't have the courage to show up, he would