His Obsession, Her Second Life

splay of their time together. Pictures of them at fancy restaurants, on a private yacht, her wearing a new diamond brace

people were incredible. They had arranged everything. New identities, new passports, a flight to Australia.

ather' s house to retrieve the one thing I couldn' t leave behind: my

the living room,

ng there, holding t

me. "Put that down, Christie,"

my. You' re a tough one, Emily. I thought for sure that

ack of remorse, confirmed what I

id, the pieces clicking into place. "That

course, it was me. I was so disappointed when you survived. Decla

took a deep, steadying breath.

ntation. Not now. Not w

leaming with malice. "He treats you like garbag

ld the

ing this room could use

r wrist, she threw the

tered, and my mother' s ashes, a fine

inside m

e ripping from my throat. I grabbed her by the hair and s

d, my voice unrecognizable.

cheek, her eyes wide with shock a

dare h

otsteps. Declan' s hea

that was terrifying, she grabbed a heavy glass paperweigh

temple. She staggered back, her eyes wide with

st into the room. "She tried to kill

od on her face, me standing over her with my hands

y arms and shoving me back

is face purple with rage. He knelt by Christie, cr

e smashed my mother' s ashes, Declan!" I screamed

k at Christie' s bleeding head. H

Emily. Christie is a

son. She' d nursed him back to health after his childhood illnesses, celebrated his every

k with a pain so deep it felt like it was tearing me apa

remained set. The monst