ing bled through the horizontal blinds, ca

wearing a sharp, tailored black blazer and matching trousers she had or

in carrying a high-end insulated thermos. She stoppe

e lid of the thermos and poured steaming, gold

l. "You should call Mr. Suarez. Just... soften your tone a little. Men have so much pressure at work.

stared at the steam rising from the ho

above a whisper, but it carried a razor-sharp edge. "Pu

nd jerked

ck of the older woman's hand. Agnes gasped, her eyes darting away in sheer panic. She

her stomach. Agnes knew. This woman, who had practically raised her, had known about K

like a physical

g her arm out and slapped the por

ble floor. Hot soup and shards of

res," Alaya hissed, stepping closer to the trembl

her pocket and dialed he

commanded into the phone, her eyes locked on Agnes's pa

ntically, shaking her head. Alaya silenced her with a sing

ed out her Hermes travel bag. She began shoving her personal toiletrie

ng forward. "The doctors haven't cleared y

y. "I am leaving this hospital today. And I am nev

Against Medical Advice-forms. She signed the legal waiver with sharp, aggress

witt family's armored Rolls-

ale, exhausted face behind massive black su

laya ordered the driver. "

nthouse, the silence of the massive space hit her like a physical weigh

custom-made cashmere slippers Hardy had order

ew across the hardwood floor

droom. She dragged three massive Rimowa suitcases fr

, her personal documents. Anything Hardy had bought her-the diamond necklaces, the designer gowns, the expensive watche

framed photo of them on their honeymoo

at the smiling faces. She slammed

n two hours, every trace of "Alaya Hewitt"

in the center of the massive, empty livi

engagement ring. She pulled it over her kn

dropped the ring inside, right next to his custom cufflinks. It landed w

levator. Her heels clicked sharply ag

he penthouse. It was no longer a hom