My Baby, My Strength, Our Future

se

a slipped into the room. She was wearing a standard-issue hospital gown

neck, but her hands were perfectly steady as she

ment the lock engaged, the pitiful, traumatized victim routine vanis

white hospital blanket, slowly slid upward, slipping under my

over the heavy traction sling and the thick plaster cast

ing her head in mock sympathy. "You real

ross my phone screen under the pillow. Muscle memory from my years as a paralegal kicke

r's chair closer to the bed, the metal legs scraping harshly again

hed, her tone dripping with manufactured pity. "He refused to leave the ER waiting room unti

sed to give her the satisfaction of seeing it. I just stared at

ves. Giana leaned forward, the ice rattling in her pla

because you were a quiet, obedient little orphan who wouldn't

d lips. "But in the real world, in the empire he's

raspy but dripping with lethal condescension. "If you're such a profound soulmate, Giana, why are you

s vanished, and Giana's face fl

fee sloshed over the rim, splattering dark brow

bed. "Holden is filing the divorce papers the second the IPO goes public

ively raised her left hand, brushing a strand of hair

assive, pear-shaped diamond resting on her ring finger. The fa

nd my pupils dilated. A sickeni

n a sunlit cafe in Paris last year. We had spent hours perf

autiful, isn't it? Holden had it rushed for me last night. Said

bile back down my throat. My thumb moved under the pill

t as a rival, but as a pathetic, delu

l out of my room," I commanded, my voice

n a brave face to hide my shattered heart. She turne

threw a nasty smirk over her shoul

aving me alone in the ste

across the screen, taking the five-minute audio file and up

ing across the screen, my eyes narrowi

tolen goods w