Secret Heir

aving would make

did

made it

alls were thin enough to hear her neighbor's television arguing every night. The restaurant smelled lik

it wa

sec

l

pretending to

rself that

uninvited-his calm voice, the way he listened, the softness he hid behind

self more for

e, was unravelin

ng endlessly, unanswered. His apartment smelled like alcohol and

lene had asked, Why didn'

he was a

honesty cost people their live

that secrets were protection-even

er saw throug

Blake said calmly, pouring tea in his penthouse like i

Austin sai

ected. "Because you gave

a long moment. "Di

ad snapped

es the things she

Austin mad

r the ladyhe actu

fore she saw him. A car parke

g her coworke

cker at work-blank, except fo

lf she was ima

e flower

ey looked expens

need to rea

rew th

ay, Austin

o sharp for the greasy floor, eyes fixed on her

ne f

is-polished, controlled, lookin

urned

" he sai

ept w

ollo

. "Just five minut

d, "You don't get five minut

ared. Someon

wed. "I just

or. "Funny. You were si

lked p

the first

he waited outsi

ed up during her b

rough his grandmother-I raised h

met. Waiting for her outside her apartment again, she saw

ad in the eye and said, "If you come

ve mea chance to say I

l

ht that w

was

ime, everythi

ppene

ering beneath her skin. She'd seen Diana's face that m

to Austi

ad a terrible

footsteps

ene-

est ti

napped, wal

, urgency cracking hi

rply. "I said

ff the curb w

lunged

ame out o

ct was s

amed. Glas

his body folding unnaturally

sto

d beside him, hands shaking, pressing against h

Stay with me. Please-don'

es flu

ry," he

face. "I love you," she

filled

she yelled in frustration "I want to be wi

t, the city took

elled like fear

until her l

y in black, Selene knew instinctivel

ame withou

ed, eyes wild, "I'll mak

y dragged S

nt to see her disgusting

obbed as they rough-h

n sur

had become steady but

asn't allowe

g tables at the restauran

nd drifted into

ustin standing

g and

ng into his arms h

you," she whispe

of me that easily

gers and spilled drinks

you ma

didn't

es

ng her back to reality. She was just daydream

work or do you want to continue the rest

l never happen agai

will be your last" he replied

ar away, Di

sm

ad plans for Selene if Au

t have Austin.

...............

ng him regularly not because she cared but because the public expect

witched, the nurse noticed while trying to refill his drip then he suddenly gasped for air almost like he

Selene?"

m down, you need rest Selen

I need t

y for her visit but yo

he's in danger " Austin replied

can't do that sir"

me out of this place"

'll be back " she left his ward and w

good d

nurse Ellie

an issue with one of the pati

sue" his gaze

ospital to see someone he sa

patient you speak o

t's Mr Blake "

his ward" he

forced himself up, he was now sitting on

ake" Dr Charles asked on

've told ur staff to get me out of this p

n't fully recover

'll pay you, just get me to her restaurant t

rgetting who m

im a wheelchair " th

oss" s

u sure this can't wait till tom

it can't, sh

b for this, but I'll help y

Selene's restaurant that evening and nurse Ellie ass

and mopping the messy ground while waiting for the remaining

be real?"

eelchair, "Does this mean her poor Austin will never walk again?" Tea

ot hold back h

said as he was now

lost you,"

rangers, he told the nurse to assist him do

you ma

t as she imagined. She couldn

s. She didn

er arms around him hugging

aky, soaked in disbe

ed they were witnessing something intimate they had no business watching. Austin stayed on

onto her finger wi

tly. "My life is a mess. My family is worse. And I've

ugh. "That's the most hone

at her. "I'm

od, she wanted to. But trust

is shirt, a violent reminder of how close s

me like that aga

ling her into his

s were dang

ediately h

the distance as Austin was rushed back to the hospital by the nurse.

the illusion t

pt. Machines beeped softly, indifferent to human suffering. She watched his chest ri

ened withou

ped inside like

Selene's hand-spe

k flickered a

ly, "this is how betr

t didn't move. "You

hat's exactly what I wa

"Diana," he gr

gnore

?" Diana continued, voice dangerously calm. "Or

slowly. "I di

softly. "You just

slicing through his ribs. "Enough. I

h to cut glass. "You've always been

loser to Sele

ered. "Men like Austin don't b

deadly smile. "And women like you

the air felt

, smoothing her coat. "

sed at

e it