Fair play

of

omeone's chest, the impa

kwa

m, familiar voice said, stea

r tears and looked up, start

riend from their small to

fore her life spiraled into

rn, and his strong arms hel

t-both physically

his voice low and worri

t are you

g to a client," he said look

? Are yo

kind and familiar, made t

ad, fresh tears spilling do

able to. The weight of eve

est, and all she could do wa

the effort of hold

is hands still resting

don't have to say anything i

u've been th

so filled with genuine co

ple

started, her

lip hard, trying to pull her

ell him about the horror th

ossession, like something

humiliation she'd just endu

an? It was

sely, his expression

... you don't have to go t

rd from his

ut the card. "It's got my nu

f you need someone to talk t

re for a whil

d for a moment, then slowly

tremb

pered, her voice barely aud

cer

dam said softly. "I'm serious.

ys w

tears. "You were always

th a finger. "And I'm

ing him the card

.. take care of

, forcing a small, gra

uring smile, and for a mome

r wasn't quite

ook, Adam gave her arm a g

vators. As he disappeared

her emotions swirling in a

gr

ard in her hand, Adam's

round. Part of her wanted to

her escape this nightmare.

down by years of James'

e just how bad things ha

Catherine tucked the card

ve home was a blur of t

nsion she once considered

massive, cold structure loo

ed, barely registering the o

nk about was the

clicked shut behind her, C

n her hands. The sobs tha

finally escaped her, and s

years of pain and f

this? She thought back to

been drowning in debt, an

e then, thinking that her f

er personal life. Bu

s had never been abo

d away her father's debts

e day clearly, the cold, ca

her, "you bel

ine's life turned upside do

rchased, something that was

r with anything she needed

that with time, he

and everything went caput.

like she was the one who ma

g for his lover. Catherine f

he lady in question abando

back and begged James for

an. Catherine wondered what

just to see and compare. Wo

she thought a

ay, she knew she couldn't p

what could she do? James h

that makes her happy in t

e'll soon be back

ne out of her grief. She wi

, and the soft sound of tiny

sweet voice

herself, standing up and

Mrs. Porter, walked in

atherine said, her voice sha

crouched down

arms, hugging her tightly. "M

de with concern. "Di

as she looked into her da

ry day. She forced a smil

Lily's s

softly. "Everything's okay.

adorable way that always me

su

spered, pressing a kiss t

e now that y

mother tightly, and Catheri

ied to push the pain from

roken she was. For her daug

no matt

er, okay?" Catherine said, s

make your favo

ried eggs?" Lily

Catherine agreed with a smile

ghter. For now, that w