Hiding The Vengeful CEO's Secret Heir

Manhattan law firm's conf

ache radiating up her spine. The soreness between her thighs was a brutal, physical rem

ogany table, Gustav Ell

n't say a word, but his jaw clenched tight. He picked up a thick stack of financial documents, fl

d two identical copies of the divorce settlement to the center of the table. The

ungs felt tight, as if the oxyge

the documents. Her fingertips trembled slightly. She

, gravelly, and dripping with ice. "Walking away with absolutely nothing? Don

ed up. Her

n those blue depths, only

s surprisingly steady, though her heart pounded frantica

gned her name on the dotted line. The ink bled into the cris

kened instantly. The mu

the paper so hard it nearly tore. He grabbed his own pen a

d the documents w

announced in a flat, rehearsed tone. "Your

he carpet. She forced her spine to remain entirely straight, ignoring the

od up a se

eight in the room. He adjusted the cufflink on h

he didn't spare him a single glance. She turned on her heel and w

just as her hand touched the cold metal handle. H

urned white as she

ern anymore," she said

it open and

bing carpet. It swallowed the sound of her heels, leaving onl

. He was keeping his distance, but she could fe

red at the brushed steel doors. Her reflection looked pale, her eyes slightly red. She

chimed. The d

de. Gustav stepped

he scent of him-cedarwood, expensive vetiver, and the fa

her arms tightly over her chest, trying to put a

humb unconsciously rubbed the spot on his left ring f

vator d

ave of intense nausea washed over her. She clamped a hand

ely reached out, his large hand movi

blazer, he stopped. He pulled his hand back

id open to the ground floor lobby. The

slightly, her heel catching on the marble floor, but she did

lving doors and stepped out

hit her face like tiny needles, instant

ersonal driver was already standing outside, holdi

building. The driver immed

dry, watching Harper shiver in the downpo

stav ordered the driver, his voice c

around. Rainwater drip

lled over the traffic. "We have not

splashing a puddle of dirty water that narrowly

e backseat. She slammed the door shut with all h

old the driver, h

w mirror. Gustav was still standing there, a dark, immovable statue

She covered her face with her cold h

twisting cramp seiz

e, deep, and terrifying. She squeezed her eyes shut, taking shallow breaths until the cramping subsided.