ed with a sudden, suffocating tension. The giddy freedom she had f

dable. "Running away?" His voice was deceptively calm, a low,

is gaze. Her heart hammered against her ribs, but she

ve been through this," he said, as if speaking

it feel smaller, more claustrophobic. He strolled over to her open suitcase a

f, filled with her finest needles and threads. It was a piece of her,

aint, useless hobby. "What will you do without my money, Isla?" he asked, his tone dri

g that was truly hers. But she refused to let

ng against hers. The brief, accidental touch sent an unwanted shiver through her, a p

e suitcase. He began to circle her slowly, like a predator sizing up its prey. "Did yo

done being their doormat,"

inst the tall doors of her closet. He placed his hands on the wall on either side of her head, trapping her. The expens

he was an immovable wall of musc

e came from," he whispered, his lips so close t

refusing to answer, her pu

left days ago, the one her makeup couldn't quite conceal. He reached out, his expr

ntly, a choked gasp

ice returned, but this time it was stronger, clearer. He stared at the mark his own hand had made, and fo

upt it left Isla bre

through his perfectly styled hair in a rare gesture of agitat

" he said, his voice flat, the subject

woman he loved. The reason for his resentment, his cruelty. It wa

sharper and deeper than any physica

r at the end of the week," he continued

his eyes as cold and hard as chips of ice. "You will be there. By my side.

cing command. "You will continue to play the part of Mrs

by his side and welcome his former lover home-left her reeling. But in his ultimate act of cr