Shadows of the blackwood contract

pte

s of B

s dangerous idea of coming to

e made me believe he could

Ethan stood in front of me, his body tense like a shield. The p

His voice was calm but

shook in my lap while I stared stra

talk about the truth. Since you two have been playing love, how abou

d right? He's been sleeping with Elena f

ped. "What?"

up. "That's a lie!

with late nights, short dresses, and private meetings. You almost gave in many times. And

to destroy our father's empire with leaked documents a

ned about your well be

without a

f the same mother on the same day just happe

ned red. "You're

yesterday. If you choose Judith she will burn everything. She helped me

inst us. The photos from six years ago still burned in m

d fast. "Y

Ethan paid Elena extra to keep quiet a

Ethan said as he

The gun waved between them. I screamed and

both o

. His finger slipped.

like a

to the ground. Blood soaked my

dropped the gun

"I didn't

my wound. "Call a

and turned on the lights. Bl

e flashed in my mind. I could not leave her. She was th

. Paramedics rushed in and lifted me

don't leave." he whispered

. Doctors rushed me to the intensive c

in a private room. Pai

e. The bullet missed key

bed. "I'm sorry.

my head

an's voice broke. "I should have protected you. I

t at billionaire's pentho

gathered

rang. Partners and lawyer

ed the news in her luxu

es, touched his arm, stayed late. She almost had him

lanned to destroy the empire

t gave her

a's

ve the order. "Find Judith's room. E

," the voice on the

without hesitation. "Make

ed across my lips as I imagined Ethan broken, completely devastated. He would need someone to lean on. He would need me.

w it was unfolding. My cleaner -the one in the blue uniform-pushed her cart down the quiet hospital ha

y for coffee, just as planned. She sneaked inside quietly. J

h stand, pulling out the syringe, and injecting the poison. It w

ached for t