the mention of the name, Ace felt a pang of regret. Even
gaze softened, replaced by
bed, deliberately creating space between
oice much gentler than befo
looked up at him, her expression a mixture of con
and sincere. "Knocking you out and bringing
not stand by and watch you walk back into a h
red. She thought of Ivette's hands, of
ntinued, sensing her fragile state. "You
me?" she asked again, h
ce gave her
up a hand as he saw the look of disbelief return to
lose, and sat down, creating the atmosphe
he wanted to destroy you, and she was more than happy t
at happens next. If we do nothing, your reputation is annihilated,
brutally honest. She
ting, "if we get married, the
an who takes responsibility, and you, as the future Mrs. Griffith,
y Ivette did again. The Terry fami
was safe, powerful, and free from the torment of
She had to admit, the
held her back. The
st. "You could easily clear your name and walk away. Why c
her about seeing her save the child, but that would feel like
t reason. A simpler
you," he said, his voice low an
nesty of his words mad
e. Think of this as a contract. An alliance. I give you sanctuary and
eal, made it infinitely easier for her to
, yes, but he was also logical. He had identified
ust began to sprout in the
es. But she didn
he whispered. "I
onumental
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