/0/97575/coverbig.jpg?v=40f7fd1c067adcff2f3ced22c1739bd7&imageMogr2/format/webp)
a's
his family won't survive another sca
hoed in my head, not as
ns never let grief stand in the way of appearances. Philip's funeral had barely fad
walked in. Maybe they were searching for another reason to whisper a
d it be t
e crowd. She approached with a practiced
n a polite peck that foo
," she whispered. "There are camer
iling sweetly for the ro
ed in luxury. All for Andrea. I was never treated this way. Not even when Phili
ar
gliding toward me, Camil
eath
vi
yfriend before the situation with Philip hap
e words barely
rped. "Anyways, meet David, my fiancé.
m. My gaze dropped to the ring on her fi
my ears. He said nothing, only looked at me, too long, too deep.
" I whispered. "P
came. Besides, we have a special gu
murmured quickly, forcing
ter too sharp. I headed for the b
ooped through David's as Camille introduced them to a group of socialites. He leaned i
oat ti
eyes met for the briefest second. I turned
ld still make me fe
d it in one go. The burn didn't help. I reached for ano
h velvet. I just wanted to be alone. The last time
marrying my sister-in-law?
m began to blur, unti
e else here," a voice
und, a man's figure em
en here. All the gu
collar, his expression un
murmured, trying to stand,
fall. His grip was firm, steady
. "I'll call someone to take you dow
tly from my hands, and I stared at him,
nd he froze. He obeyed
ry detail perfect, from the dark hair to his grey eyes to
el how much he lo
office, kissing another woman. I'd brought him lunch that day, smilin
you?" The words slipped
answer. Ju
Philip to look at me the way he looked at her.
anger, one who made me forget why
e, my body betraye
loser and
e and whiskey, scorching against my tongue. He resisted for just a h
though once he'd given in, he couldn't stop. He kissed like a man f
like this. Never touc
urned through me,
stopped. B
t to be the grieving widow or the s
ed to
e perfect sin
nked open to a ceiling I didn't recognize. For a second, I didn't move. My
side me were
umpled on the floor, my skin mar
the heat of his mouth on mine, the way I had clung t
voice cracked.
f I could undo it, as if I could erase the feel of him. My b
throat. I dressed fast, barely breathing. My h
e can
und out, if anyone did,
ll, my pulse racing, pra
ar
ce froze me w
r, perfectly composed, her expression
th caug
terday. Don't stir up problems. Go downstairs
ipped. "Phili
respectful, as it's your first time seeing h
mutely. "
ast sharp look be
my chest. The walls felt too close, th
oise stitched carefully back into place. Every step felt rehearsed. I
ady seated at the breakfast table, s
I murmured, avoi
he sound of footsteps from
, and a familia
eath
it cou
hair, tailored suit, calm authority
s-grey, cold
warmly, rising to embrace h
move. Could
was
linching, expression unreadable. A flicker of recognit
udly, "meet Elias Lawson
ting his head slightly. "An
en closed again. His tone was polite, his face composed, b
ands clasped tightly in my lap
the kind of smile
to my bones, I hadn't just slept with a stra
/0/97575/coverbig.jpg?v=40f7fd1c067adcff2f3ced22c1739bd7&imageMogr2/format/webp)