THE BILLIONAIRE'S SECOND WIFE

ot lettin

with his phone to his ear, jaw clenched so t

wnstairs?"

es

oing to let her st

me. "Her name is Celest

Your dea

ay it li

Spiritually departed? Nicholas, yo

uneral she disappointed. Now suddenly she's ba

ason you want a fa

me. "She can'

me speak

nked.

legal threats. Let

n't kno

ot the one she

d rooted t

to get this pa

sent his hand through his hair.

need

sn't what

, and a pale beige coat cinched around her like armor. She

me ins

holas," she sai

I'm

eyebrow. "Ne

anc

ste

use

. "Nicholas and I are engaged.

wn here like I'm so

na. It's been

ook that could

e what? A

man trying

"You think he's stable enou

. "I think he's

niece with a nanny who doesn't

ou he

ave

ive," I ad

d. "You don't know

tell

hesi

ave ten minutes to convince m

ut then she walked past m

one with less glass and more comfort. Nicholas stayed up

t the painting o

ings," she said. "I

een two

for L

ck. "You wa

hat's bes

think tha

that's

hy

orked late. I traveled constantly. Left her to raise their daughter alone. When she g

the same as

an with a heart made o

her. "So

ha

er two years. After n

ooked

at I thoug

I want her

cholas thin

sn't think. H

heard your answe

ook out her purse. She pulled out a ph

er. With a woman I

. Hair tangled by the w

ster," Celeste whispered. "And

ently. "Have you aske

s a c

tupid. She h

nt her to b

n't. Tal

she wants me

going to have to

me. "You're not

er are

ere to fight. Not yet. I just want t

tell

door. Then paused.

es

ave you bee

link. "Thr

already l

"It's a

me. "You don

I hate

ithout ano

office, staring at a sec

s fast,"

's g

ay anythin

said

ed in h

r see Lena," I said. "Super

N

cho

aid

y. You have no idea

, I

let me

tly. "You're a

ying pr

eing

"What aren't you

e window, avoidi

cho

st visits. Full guardianship.

ped. "You didn'

n't need

your fiancée. I shou

low. "If I told you e

y m

eath wasn'

ser. "What ar

ted. Then

n. An anonymous tip. Someo

art s

ou say

someone thinks I did. An

ho

dn't

ng again. He star

it?" I

howe

own

ed up.

was a

e stif

call on t

t have brought the girl back. She see