Her Daughter's Funeral, Their Wedding Night

eamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows o

k silk robe, loosely tied at the waist. He rubbed his temples with his

severe storm front had indefinitely grounded all private flights. Unable to fly to Delphine to seek comfort, Donovan found his anger had nowhere to vent. Ultimately, he had taken his Maybach to an exc

nd pulled out a high-backed leather stool. He sat down, resting his elbows

r. She would quietly slide a mug across the marble. It would be a ginger and honey tea, brewed for

e was holding a silver tray with trembling hands. She approached the isl

picked up the delicate cup by t

sion of raw ginger that burned the back of his throat.

iolently spat the te

island. Brown liquid sloshed over the

roared, his voice hoarse from t

back, her eyes wide with fear. "I-I'm sorry, sir! The ki

s. The throbbing in his head spiked. "Wh

down early this morning, sir. She... she told the head chef that she is no longe

angover. It wasn't just that the tea was bad. It was the blatant refusal. The insubordi

hardwood floor. He didn't bother to fix his robe as it fell open, revealing h

enora's door. He didn't knock. He grabbed the brass h

aring a pair of large, noise-canceling headphones, her head bent over a t

t heard h

ight behind her chair. He looked at the back of her neck, th

e didn't react, he leaned down, invading her space. He reached out and deliberately plucked one of the noise-canceling

ders jerking in shock. Sh

scotch and aggressive cologne, his robe hanging open, her

er desk, trapping her in the chair. He leaned in close, h

hrowing now?" Donovan demanded,

he raised her hands and shove

k half a step, surpr

e let her arms drop to her sides. Then, hidden by the angle of her body where Donovan couldn't see, she aggressively rub

her voice dripping with icy contempt. "Or did

a slap. He let out a harsh, incredulous laugh. He reached o

l at her. "Is this about the tea? Do you honestly think playing har

the sheer force of her presence made her seem ta

rate. "I didn't make your tea because I don't want to waste anothe

s for the lie. He looked for the hidden af

Only a cold, hard

s seized. He took a subconscious step backward. His h

pencil shattered under the pressure. The jagged edge of the broken plastic sliced ac

and pointed a stiff fin

room," she co