The Runaway Wife: Escaping His Gilded Cage

arlisle w

her papery skin stretched thin over fragile bones. Her breathing came in shallow, rattling gasps.

ople: her grandson, Damian

oice a threadbare echo of its form

at Ava, then returned his gaze to h

ath's door, closed around the younger woman's fingers like a shackle. "You...

he words out, each one a stone sinking

er eyes growing distant

re her l

er, St. Patric

dded to the weight crushing her chest. The old woman's grip, memorably

ne thick in the air. Her breath caught in her throat. It was a struggle

d English that did nothing to calm the frantic beat of her heart. She l

effigy of grief, his jaw set, his eye

er. The vast gap between their reality and Eleanor

less smile touc

nd died, leaving a heavy silence in its wake. As Eleanor's polished mahogany casket was lif

s elite flowing towards the grand doors. Ava moved to follow th

o, her back a rigid wall of black wool, block

cle. She became an island in the stream. Glances slid over her,

The orphan Eleanor

mpanion. "Such a tragedy. But at least Damian has I

le. They've always been the perfect match.

smile, "the old lady is gone now. These th

of them mentioned Mrs. Carlisle. The

shed past her, jostling her shoulder hard. He d

. You're i

Carlisle family'

the edge of a step. A firm hand ste

Carl

professional sympathy. He pressed a folded, crisp white handkerchief i

ngs," she said, her v

. A symbol of power and legacy. It felt like a brand. A consolation prize. She realized wit

the steps and linked her arm through Isabelle's. They shared

ightened into a sneer, and she rolled her eyes before turning her b

. Isabelle. Victoria. Serena. A perfect, impenetrable fo

she let hers

ding. At that time, she was too naive, thinking it was the beg

ear. And when he did, he went to his own room.

ent news, always standing just a little too close to Isabelle

in his study, trying to ke

"Isabelle is my assistant. T

secretly seeing a psychologist, and her anxiety attacks ease

lace cam

Eleanor's doing. Damian had agreed because refusing his gra

r. An orphan with no family, no for

een failing for two years. The doctors said any stress could kill

or has al

and now that the female patriarch had

k a dee

r confused or searchi

. She deliberately tightened her grip on Damian's arm and wal

ncern, "you look a little lost. Do you need a ride? I c

ar. Not our car.

belle's triumphant, challeng

it cut through the air with the clean, sharp edge

n Isabelle'

turned his head. His brow furrowed. For the first time th

shrink. She would lower her eyes

t, her chin level. She gave him noth

ed her back o

the waiting line of black cars. She was walking away from the Carlisle

low growl. His jaw tightened, tha

ed instantly, materializing in front o

one polite but unyielding, "Mr. Ca

oked at the vehicles waiting in line. H

e had cried over that car.

s lips. She reached into her handbag,

nt. They landed at the bodyguard's

ow taxi, old and dented, screeched to a halt in front of her. She pulled the door o

merge into the chaotic flow of Manhattan traffic, a flash of yellow swallowed by the city. For a