I Am Not A Woman You Can Discard

she wanted to see tonight-no, ever-was Alistair Vaughn. But there he stood, unbothered by

hould

ocked it, and drowned out whatev

he di

f for that momen

aid finally, her voice as cold as stee

his gaze intensified, like he was unravel

ut a bitter

no one el

gue, to tell him he was wrong, that she didn't need anyo

n was

disappeared the moment t

had warned her, jus

as comin

t for

lf to breathe. "I don't need you to do

as something in his eyes-something sharp, something po

lse st

he wasn'

istake? That his presence in her life had been nothing bu

ere they w

m the thoughts that threatened to pull h

ween them shifted. He exhaled slowly, as if debati

stead, his voice quieter this ti

lenched. "Not

darkened.

u to take care o

ence st

at he had always been there, even when she hadn't wa

smi

that sent an unwanted

thly, stepping back.

er chest-but it

this conversation," he added, his voice laced with

and walked away, his presence linge

k against the door,

Vaughn wa

no matter how hard she tried to esca