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he man I loved, the father of my child, was actually a master manipulator orchestrating a cruel r
rporate heir Anthony Holden. But this joy shattered when she overheard Anthony and his twin, Emmanuel, reve
oset, attempted to poison her, and Anthony stomped on her wrist, stealing her EpiPen. This relentless abuse led to the ultimate loss of
t blood-soaked floor. Erica, now utterly devoid of emotion, would forge t
pte
ca
he same day I learned my three-year rela
atched the frantic, joyous drumming in my chest. My hand trembled, not from the chill seeping through
gna
I had to grip the edge of the sink to steady
olden had been my everything. He was the sun that had burned away the shadows of my past, the solid ground beneath my feet after a lifetime of instability. He, the heir to the Holden corporate empire, ha
ace, to witness the moment his perfect, stoic features broke
ntioned a meeting at "The Obsidian," one of those obscenely exclusive NYC club
ous energy that had nothing to do with the caffeine I' d mainlined during my twelve-hour shift. I pictured his reaction
or. It was all dark wood, supple leather, and the low murmur of powerful men. A hostess p
h and cultured. And another, so uncannily similar it sent a shiver down my spine.
sure you can stomach it?" That was Emmanuel, h
oze on the
t' s the final act, Manny. I' ve endured three
red. Farce? Wh
g fiancé while I did all the heavy lifting,
ned closer, my ear pressed against the c
"You had your fun with her. I, on the other hand, rema
spin, the hushed sounds of the club fading into a de
three years? Whose hands had traced my body i
whole damn thing. I was just the actor. And a damn good one,
empt. A cold, hard stone of it that I had never heard before. "Just a gu
with anticipation. "The look on her face when you leave her at the altar and
. The floor fell
e beginning of my life
. "For what she did to Bianca in college. For every t
Bianca
eautiful, popular girl who had made my college years a living hell. The one
anca' s ready?"
one, the coldness melting into a warmth I had foolishly believed was reserved for me
sob. My legs gave out, and I crumpled against the plush hallway carpet
s all
Every tender touch. Ev
on reven
ny, in his impeccably tailored suit, his expression cold and arrogant. And Emmanuel, his tie slightly loosen
Emmanuel' s eyes before it was masked by a cruel swagger. Anth
the doorframe. "Look what the cat dragged in.
subtle differences I' d never noticed before now screamingly obvious. The glint in
d," I whispered, the wo
eady established that you' re not the sharpest tool in the shed. Let me spell it out
I cried about the bullying, who had promised me no one would ever hurt me again... had orchestra
ed me," I choked out, t
y well, too, if I remember correctly. But love? Sweetheart, that was never part
ically destroyed my life swam before me. The mastermind and the actor.
cting a platinum credit card. He tos
on. "Consider it a severance package. For your time. No
ngered, a strange, possessive glint
, his voice a low caress that now made my skin
turning and following his brother down the hall, lea
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