The Woman He Discarded

e gala, my bo

crippling cramps that left me doubled over. The pa

ting pad pressed against my sto

ne buzzed.

oard tonight. 8 P

, my heart sinking. I c

n' t. I' m in a lot

ly was

. She' s too delicate. I need you ther

ngers shake as I typed. Ethan, I r

peared, then vanished. A

ility is due tomorrow. I'

my gut clenched tighter. It wasn

no c

tle to ease the agony. I put on a black dress, packed my

ve minut

n I arrived. Chloe was beside him, looki

e. He just gestured to th

estions sharp, their gazes predatory. I did my job. I deflected, I

ng smile, pushed a cocktail towards Chloe. "

voice smooth but firm. "Chloe do

He picked up the cocktail and slid i

hurned. "Eth

gged down a waiter and ordered a shot of vodka. The

han said, pushing the shot glass nex

th a flicker of something that might have been pity

mind. The beeping of his machin

iquid burned my throat. Then I took the shot. The ice-cold v

inding agony that ripped through me. I gasped, clutc

llap

lacked out was Ethan, his arm a

his voice soft and protecti