Unforgivable Mistakes, Unpaid Debts

portrait-a Keegan she' d never known, full of unguarded love-to the

lculated distance he maintained even in their most intimate moments. Sh

ersus ice. The difference was stark, absolute, an

lery felt thin. Sh

ir," she mumbl

shuddering breaths. When she finally felt calm enough to return, Keegan

a said, her voice dripping with con

ven. A sense of obligation. But he loves me. He' s always loved me. Even whe

eigned sympathy. She felt a strange sense of peace. T

steady. "Our relationship was a transaction. He' s al

rned t

m acceptance was not the reaction she

rieked, and shoved Hav

lder hit the sharp corner of the frame. A searing pain shot through her, and she crumpled to the

toward them, his face a mask of panic. He ran right past h

" he asked frantically, checking

bling finger at Haven. "She... she de

yes turning to ice. The concern was

to her,"

floor. He hadn't even asked if she was hurt. He saw her on the ground, bl

t to say. There was n

down her arm, she walked over to the ruined portrait. With a strange, cold detachment,

stared, his face con

ur mind?" he yelled, lun

k from her purse, scribbled a number with six zer

nality. "It' s mine now. I can do whatever I want with

away, her back straigh

had never heard from him before. "You think money can buy everything? Yo

thought Cora' s manufactured drama was genuine. He thought

escaped her lips. She didn't look back. She kep

urred by tears. The pain in her heart was so immense, so all-co

s, a terrifying impact, and

t voice, a nurse, asking if she had any family they could ca

eg

once, twice, three times. It was picked up, then immed

seeped into H

voice answered, annoyed.

as C

, Haven Parks has been in a serious acciden

and cold, came on the line. Haven' s heart, which she thought

d, his voice sharp with irritation. "Wha

ne wen

filled the emergency room. The

en' s eye and traced a path throug

her trembling hand. A pen wa

for yourself, honey,"

m, signing her own life into the hands of strangers. The man she had love