His Golden Ambition, Her Ruin

eeling like ash in my mouth. "Mark, we' re

lent room. I pointed to the gol

s was our love. Yo

. He walked over and picked up a small, golden bird, a sparrow that

"This was a means to an end, Ava. A very

rd the window, toward th

public image. The adoration of the masses. She'

me, his gaze analytical

ce and a power that is, admittedly, useful. But you

most didn' t feel real. He was laying out his

while you' re engaged to another woman?" I asked, my v

d tarnish my first days as CEO. We can' t have that. You' ll stay here, in the penthouse. You' ll be Mrs. Ster

lation, of spinning poiso

, hollow despair. I stared at my hands, the hands that had given him everything. He had taken my love,

ed, shifting into one of feigned concern

t. I wouldn' t want anything... unfortunate... to happen to their company shares now that

ean, sterile, terrifying threat. My family' s fortune was tied to his

my eyes dry now. T

you ask," I sai

gentle, patro

erstand, Ava. You'

tie, and headed for the

" he said. "E