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st weeks away from marryin
were severely burned by an exclusive c
my career and cost me a th
ust frowned in annoyance, call
ried sick about my accident, while his mother ope
neymoon tickets and wrote Karis's name instead
I loved was so cruel, until I
censed, corrosive chemical Karis
r crime, treating me as a convenient placehold
m or beg for h
dding, I left the ten-carat diamond ring on
ltar in front of New York's e
g you ever gave me. I
pte
Jennin
Underneath the sterile white cotton, a fire licked along the delicate
d, a galaxy of ruthless stars. It was a beautiful prison
e. A text from my agent, David. *"Clare, any u
ing out a message, of the pressure on my bandaged fingerti
azzling smile as she insisted I try it. *"It's a new exclusive from Europe, darling. It will make your hands look like spu
lick of the lock disengaging. My heart gave a painful thud
saw me on the sofa, gave a curt nod, and walked straight to the wet bar. The clink of a heavy crystal tumb
My voice was a dry ra
said, the sound a low vibration in his ch
to my bandaged hands. A frown creased his perfect brow, but it wasn'
was the same one he used to ask for
tor wouldn't give me a straight answer. He said we'd need to wait
or a flicker of sympathy, of shar
ealed?" he pressed, focused o
my stomach. "He's not sure. H
osened the knot of his silk tie as if
words were meant to be comforting,
g out of his suit jacket. "I saw Karis today," he said
nails tried to dig into my palms, but o
ld me what happened. A minor accident. Sai
" The words were a
d a sliver of reproach. "Wasn't it? Karis was nearly in tears. Sh
fless concern, while my own tangible, searing pain
d for five years, the man I was suppose
ast and cold it stole m
hungry," he announced, his tone shifting
, his casual dismissal, had just pushed me of
silence a living thing
red by irritation. "What's wrong
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