The Call That Ruined Me

on lights and the scream o

a silver Porsche and a cherry-red Ferrari, weaved through the sparse late-night traff

e St

om her tech mogul brother, Liam. As a social media influ

slow-moving truck, spun out of control, and slammed sideways int

pulled over and fu

t's your

. "On the coastal highway, just past the Ocean

st watched as the first responders arrived, their flashing lights painting the s

hone call des

city. I was in a room that felt more like a cage, a luxurious one, but a cage nonet

plush carpet. He dropped a medical file onto the glass

ating," he said, his voice d

. After the crash, the media had a field day. Chloe's reckless street racing was exposed, along with a history of DU

ade the call. He claimed my report to the authorities was a malicious act

liable. He backed me into a corner until I had nothing left. Then he made his offer: marry him, and he would stop. M

nt, not a proposa

oice trembling. "Not li

his eyes cold and devoid of the warmth they once h

u owe me. You owe my family.

chin, forcing me to look at hi

s harder than i

and a sharp, cramping pain in my

etting go of me. "Are you going

a dampness between my legs and a cold dread washed over me. I look

lipped, replaced by a flicker of confusion, maybe even conce

eyes. The pain was a sharp, twisting knife. "L

owerful form silhouetted against the floor-to-ceiling windows.

zzed. He glanced at it, and I saw the name on t

returning to its usua

. I couldn't hear what Sarah was saying, but I saw its effect on him. T

e phone. "Thank you for

et. The brief moment of hope I' d felt vanished,

," he o

lutching my stomach. "I'm b

to my feet. The movement sent

w growl. "She said you're a talented architect. You're good at

er. You tore down my family's name. And now you're trying

had said had poisoned him completely. My des