No Longer Your Bridge: The Heiress Awakens

Haye

of a monitor was the first thi

beep...

consciousness. Waking up meant facing the reality

. It was ragged, desperate, a tone I had rarely heard

e h

. Not our so

ing twilight. A nurse stood by my bedside, adjusting the drip of my IV. He

ifted to m

ts place was a soft, hollow emptiness and

fore it could be born, strangle

She paused, then leaned in cl

. Ha

ice was a shards-of-

ears welled in her eyes, spilling over. "There was too much trauma, ma'a

o

fety. My only reason for breathi

rd the heavy wooden door where Michael's muff

ed. "The doctor is pre

N

out and grabbed her wrist. My grip was frail, trembling

t tel

I can't-legal

knows the baby is gone, he will never let me leave. He'll keep me trappe

me, and saw past the physical injuries. She saw the

spered, making a decision that could cost her everyt

ed, my head falling b

or bur

ked like a wreck-hair wild, eyes bloodshot, his white dress shirt sta

lling to his knees besid

him take it. It lay limp in hi

"I panicked. I didn't mean what I said at the restaura

y voice was monotone,

searching my face.

t for me. Not for his wife cover

... still he

rough his entire body, sounding almos

"I'll make it up to you. I swear it on my l

d, closing my eyes to shut

othing his ruined shirt. "I'll be ri

alke

minutes. Te

bed. The burns on my legs screamed in protest, a searing, white-hot

e door and opene

station. Selena was there, looking impecca

sounded annoyed, as if my hospita

d, his voice dropping in

ed, checking her nai

Michael aske

mplicate the merger with the Russians. You kn

ound. He reached out and took h

elena. That's why I love you. You'

oing to tell he

irst. Secure the heir. Then...

r you, Michae

he love shine in his eyes-a look of respect and

e door with

s of the sink. I looked at myself in the mirror. Pale. Ghos

I whispered t

hat restaurant when the first bowl shattered. T

e bed and dug my ph

Elizabe

one. I'

texted

the cla

my legs. I closed my eyes and pictured a map. I pictured a sm

ust leavin

erasin

later, holding a bouquet of white lilies-f

, most dangerous sm

," I sai

my l

You look exhausted. I'll

kissed my forehead.

ow,"

l

own the hall. As soon as the metal doors

and dripped onto the pristine white sheets, b

t clean

ee the blood. I w

d through the heavy door to the fire escape. The cool night air hit

't loo

pen. And the b