onth
mp and parked in the private undergro
uthlessly crushing an internal rebellion within his family's overseas operations. The constant adren
image floated into his mind. He pictured Alaya sitting on the living room sofa, wearing he
doors chimed
s no warm light spilling from the living room. There wa
slapped the smart
massive living room. Hardy froze half
r. It was half empty. Every single pair of Alaya's h
ngs constricted, refusing to take in oxygen. He dropped h
le were gone. The custom throw pillows she loved were missing from th
ors of the master bedroom. He walked over to his bedside table. Th
cufflinks, was the massive diamond enga
d out and snatched the ring from the woodemassive walk-in closet and r
Not a single hanger remained. It was so clean it
oset and bumped into th
om their honeymoon was lyi
er. He stared at the image of his wife smiling brightly at the came
ving the miscarriage. He expected to come home to angry texts and demand
ut of his pocket. He hit
moved out?!" Hardy roared into the speak
omplete information blackout. The staff thought it was just a... a standa
tie and ripped it downward, gasping for air. His heart was
s number-the only number he had pinned
ted female voice filled his ear. "The number
d bloc
ew his cell phone onto the bed and lunged for the landline
ee times. T
rough the speaker. It was flat, dist
to force moisture back into his mouth. "Alaya.
pause on the line. Then
top pretending. My lawyers should h
ife twisting in his gut. His chest tightened so painfully
are you?" His voice was low and dangerous
ic
loudly in his ear. Sh
t his skin. He let out a low, guttural yell and sla
to a dozen pieces, raini
d and stared at the diamond ring resting on his palm. His fingers c
her from his enemies. But the cage was open, the bird was gone, and the realizati
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