Captive Bride: Escaping The Masked Monster

n't cleared by three o'clock this afternoon, the hospital a

illing counter tapped her pen

tightly her knuckles turned a translucent white. The printed numbers blurred together. Her chest tightened, th

y what halting that medication me

ub pocket with trembling fingers, pulling out her phone. She need

it the screen, a hand sl

d a glossy blood-red click

head sna

ed jacket was immaculate, the heavy scent of synthetic roses and expensive leather rolling off her. She reached into her

ck was exactly two hu

s of her sneakers squeaked against the

ou playing now, Vivian?" Chlo

er the Bankruptcy Code by Friday, Chloe. We are liquidating everything. This

t down hard, welcoming the sharp sting of pai

wealthy, a great catch. Every family on the Gold Coast wanted that match. But Joy fell ill last night. High fever, couldn't even stand. She's in no condition

ent ice-cold. "You want me to marry a stranger to cov

simply raised her hand

shadows. They didn't look at Chloe. They turned their broad shoulders and beg

ross her spine. Vivian had bought off the hospital admi

gasped, her

legal papers and a silver Mon

tor began to blare. The sound pierced straight through Chloe's eardrums,

r. She had bitte

scanned the bold header-PROXY MARRIAGE AGREEMENT-and the rest of the text blurred into an incomprehensible wall of legalese. The only words that mat

e papers back with

ed. They flanked Chloe, their massive hands

ashed, her sneakers kicking

ckward, her shoes skidding across the polished floo

sat idling by the loading dock, its engine emitting a low,

ut. The locks engaged wit

ats. She scrambled to the window, pressing her palms agains

oe pulled her knees to her chest, her stomach twisting into violent knots. The vehicle

a torrential downpour. Rain

iron gates. The gates groaned shut behind them, sealing her inside a sprawling, gothic est

jerked t

istine butler's uniform stood in the pour

," the butler said, his face enti

her ankles. Arthur did not wait for her. He turned and marched toward the ma

aircase, and straight to the third floor. The hallway was dimly

open and st

and falling in rapid, shallow brea

ur pulled the door shut behind her. The

into absolute, suf

r hands blindly sweeping the wall for a light switch. Her fi

fabric of a

ng illuminated the room f

towering, broad-shouldered silhouette

ntgomery

, a massive, rough hand c

Her back slammed against the solid oak door. T

f lightning tor

up his jawline, mangling the skin over his cheekbone and pulling at the

lyzing terror seized her brain. Her