Ninety-Nine Chances Gone

idn' t even look at me. He just con

e with someone else

were discussing

and absurd. "It's just... evolved. You will always be Mrs. Cole. Your p

aze finally meeting mine.

etimes you need to diversify to keep things fr

t made me laugh. He was trying to rationali

red, too numb. I just stared at him, my sil

the vase on the table. A flash of something-gu

ed, as if it were a great sacrifice.

e me, his posture s

have dinner with me. The times he' d surprise me with desser

d it not to hurt. But the chasm between the man he was and the man he had become was too

had. I stood up and walked bac

und the house with a spoon, coa

ce in his eyes. He probably thought I was playin

tairs. The lights in the kitchen were on. I s

s coo

d as he gripped the spatula was so familiar it ached. He dipped a spoon into the pot

ly prepared dishes. My heart fluttered. For a crazy secon

suddenly

ing into insulated food containers,

standing there. His f

for you," he

rs, and headed for the door, leaving me

shaky, self-

to leave this house and this life behind, when

to line up by the do

sank. I kne

filling the room with an oppressive weight. He was

tairs and his lip

he said, his voice a low growl. "You don

e stairs. Before I could spe

me som

hot her a look that froze her in

prepared the tea. I brought the cup to him. He didn't ta

at you carry the Frost family heir, you s

, and hot liquid spilled over

ivered the

y test on the fetus. We must ensure

lipped from my grasp, shattering on the marbl

I whispered, my voice trembling. "An am

st bloodline is what matters! If that thing

dread seeping into my bones. He saw m

aby," I said, my voice gai

fingers shaking. "James...

connected, I heard his ringtone

e. He was here. He would protect us. Jame

, I felt a surge of love.