Finding Peace, Not Love

other end of the line, then Liam' s l

prise. Are you sure you' re

could hear the underlying sh

, and he knew she w

she said, h

trance into the cool night air, leaving

perpetually worried expression, fo

e overheard

ing?" she whispered, he

s Arthur' s rival. Think about what t

woman, a flicker o

always b

is choice," Ch

I hope they' ll be v

outh, a hollow blessing for the ma

ssistant pressed, her br

o sudd

in the depth of the betrayal, the cru

a vague and unsatisfying answ

around her heart, and th

out, having finally settled a

to his assistant and

we need

talk about," she said

Isabella was now sitting in th

her son, Le

he window, his small face

family, a perfect,

lidified Chl

ng, Arthur,

ast him, pulling the heavy engagem

it at him, she d

aced the ring in his palm, and

clean, qu

eve

into the night,

buzzed i

m her calendar: "Annual P

were supposed to go to together, a

augh escap

n planning just hour

Chloe went to th

l and white wall

room, she heard familiar

ella, talking to a doc

, Mr. Thorne," the

as likely just a minor virus. He' s p

la' s voice was laced with a c

ak last night. I

abella," the docto

e things. There' s

around Isabella,

r. You' ve put ou

h tenderness, a look he h

her spell, blind to th

chair, her heart a cold,

g over a perfectly healthy Leo, two nurse

Thorne, the art

. They say he' s been in love with her for

too," the othe

ush over here? For a fake illness, it turns out. That Isabella has him wrapped around her li

wasn't just gossi

everything she had overheard, ev

absolute, that it felt lik

pers echoing in the empty spa