on's defiant face to her daughter-in-law's unnerving calm. She placed the

ning into a tone of feigned sympathy. "Julian has been... thoughtles

also requires respect, Eleanor. Something

on the sofa. "This is rid

ou 'handled' it at the St. Regis? Your idea of handling things i

of finality. "Both of you will stay here tonight. You will go upstair

my own apartment in the

ncer. This is your home." She gave a subtle, almost imperceptible nod to M

eyes downcast. "Madam, yo

would only create a scene, something she was desperate to avoid. Wi

ith a steely gaze. "Go

ents later, his jaw t

keeper. "Maria, could you please pre

mered, twisting her hands in her apron. "Mrs. Spencer was very spe

he staff in an impossible position

ared with Julian. It was immaculate, impersonal, more l

just as Julian walked in, closing the door behind him. The

with a hostile energy. Cecelia had no desire to be in the same room with hi

Nothing happened. She turned it again, harder th

dread formed

e genuine panic in her movements. He strode over, pushed her as

e feathered in his jaw. He pulled out his ph

screen. The room was a dead zone. A signal

her eyes. The situation was so absurd, so utterly insane, it was almost

es narrowed with suspicion. A cruel

ripping with contempt. "A little damsel-in-distres

him, and all the panic, all the fear, was

, her voice flat. "Do you honestly believe I have the po

o answer. He knew, logically, that she couldn't have planned this. But blaming her

loose. He stalked over to a sofa at the far end of the r

a battlefield. Silence

s en-suite bathroom, a space larger than her first apartment,

nce from the other room pressing in on her. She wasn't just loc

throw blanket over her shivering body. In the other room, Julian s