over near the edge of Central Park. She craved the bitter cold open air, something raw

suddenly began to spill fine, delicate snowflakes. They settled and melted instantly aga

tless traffic noise and chatter. She had not brought a coat, let alone an umbrella. The damp winter chill

stability, suddenly flickered once before going completely dark. The battery had died entirely after hours of

ttered her trust. Every replayed memory carved a fresh, sharp stab of pain into her heart. She passed a brightly lit restaurant window, where a family sat gathere

ch of pavement. She stumbled violently, her ankle twisting sharply be

harsh, icy impact of the hard concr

und her waist, steadying her trembling body in an instant. She was pressed flush against a broad

crisp cold fragrance of the night air, laced with a faint, sophisticated trace of p

yet she could clearly make out the tall, imposing silhouette of a man, his ja

y and unyielding. "Be careful," he said. His voice was a low, deep rumble, e

scape his warmth. A hot flush of embarrassment flooded her cheeks. She swiped c

hattered pride, and lay bare every broken piece of her crumbling world. A faint, distant flicker of recognition stirred in her chest-she had seen this sharp, formidable

rly a professional assistant, stepped out promptly, opened the rear passenger door, and held up a large black waterproof u

lis

in an instant. Blake's powerful, notoriously ruthless uncle. The legendary Wall Str

onfirm her suspicion, but he had already turned his head away, leaving

hrough the heavily tinted window, she could just discern hi

climbing into the front seat. "Sir

h the falling snow, flat, crisp, and

professional features, before he lowered his gaze respectfully and slipped into

om sight. Elara stood frozen, watching it go, a bitter, hollow laugh escaping her trembling lips. Of course. She

ably to her skin, and forced herself to keep walking. But the bitter winter cold and the overwhelming shock o

o a thick whiteout that blurred the entire street. Her

playing a real-time live feed from a nearby street surveillance camera. The footage cap

ing stark white as he gripped the phone tightly. He knew the telltale sign w

low and raspy with suppressed tension. "Ethan. Find a subtl

ly around her, bright streetlights dissolving into blurred streaks of white and gold. Her last fleeti

psed body the second she lost consciousness. The car doors op