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ella
ew husband had expected. Years of arduous surgical training had given me a powey scanned the room. A strong aroma of bourbon ming
, its cold black marble and gilded decorations creating a striking contrast. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the neon-lit Chicago s
und me like a discarded corpse. This was Julian's carefully orchestrated scheme-a deli
ep, but he had no idea that he
s Dalia Vance-hunched over and saw me in the shadows. Instead
enom. She reached out and stroked Julian's sweaty chest. "You'll ge
r to look back at me; he
d soaking into my skirt. I didn't cry, nor did I scream. I simply brushed a strand of
said, my voice cold and clear
turned his head, his deep eyes
over them with utter disgust. "A bi
ed into a mask of pure, undisguised rage. He shoved
hed. "I'm going to teach you how to tal
back down. He raised his hand, signaling
ntil he was completely within my
a resounding crack. Julian's leg instantly lost its balance, his nervous system seemingly short-circuiting. He
ian fell to his knees, clutching his chest,
"With muscles like yours, you can't even protect your own vitals
Dalia froze, her eyes wide with
ing with boredom. "I never accept substandard
hame, her face flushed crimson. "You bitch!" she screamed, le
As she closed in, I simply shifted my weight, grabbed her outstretched wris
e cold, black marble floor. She curled up in a ball, whimp
me, his arrogance replaced by a burning, venomous hatred. He realized then t
n said through gritted teeth, panting hea
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