OWNED BY THE CEO

ite ceiling tiles swam into focus as pain throbbed behind her eyes. Her body f

to the land o

Rodriguez watching her from a chair beside the bed. The attorney's tailored suit

oaked, her throat raw

cal condition. Burns over thirty perce

shes of the explosion replayin

DO

gers instinctively went to her pocket, findin

t. "Along with this." She placed a hospital bracelet on the be

red at it. "H

to Anchorage with certain... documents." Vivian leaned forward, lowering her voice. "The Sterling family retainer h

ring the protest from her battered

ling found out about Claire's pregnancy. The old man was livid, but even he wouldn't risk a biological

arranged Clair

heart attack six months ago." Vivian's gaze was calc

another explosion. "I was... place

our parents didn't die in that car crash when you were sixteen, Isabella. That

tilted on its ax

ehind them, partially blurred but unmistakable: Edward Sterling. "Your father was Edward's accountant. When he discovered the mone

closed doors, sudden moves in the middle of the night, her

ard saw an opportunity. You were the perfect someone who could get close en

lla asked though a terri

ing will, not the public version. Edward left controlling interest in Sterlin

t Alexander

watch. "Alexander doesn't know about the will yet. He thinks Thomas is just a

ice, tinny through the cabin phone

ind Claire's attack, the

hreshold, his expensive suit incongruous against the sterile

out posthumously by the board." His eyes, red-rimmed with e

w?" Isabe

s gaze lingered on Isabella's bruised face, something like regret flickering acros

his stare. "

closing the door behind him. "Th

throat. "That depend

ed. "Safe. Beyond anyone

n nephew?" Isabella's v

Who still might succeed." He turned to Vivian. "The board meeting is tomorrow. They expect m

don't?" Isa

as cold. "Then we al

A nurse entered, carrying a small pac

"I didn't give an

bedside table before leaving. Alexander ap

gional Hospital," he sai

ge. Inside lay a single black-and-white sonogram i

grandmother's smile. Fin

a looked up at Alexander,

he whispered. "Where

is moving Thomas, we need to get th

ll the mother of my child." He pulled out his phone, d

tones, Isabella caught Vivian watchi

rd chose you because you have something he valued above all el

bracelet, the plastic warm against her palm.

"Then I suggest you start by asking yourself who sent that pa

Isabella as Alexander ended hi

nnounced. "We leave for Whi

y open blinds of her hospital room window, she caught a glimpse of a familiar face watching f

ve. And he

said carefully, her heart pounding. "Ther