the hospital bed, the silence

amed that something was off; the heat that had seared his palms two nights ago felt strangely absent. But the physical

is expression returning to

Alistair asked, his

... he wanted to marry me off to an old hedge fund investor to save our real estate portfoli

ride matched the woman who had clawed his back a

ute. "From today, you are under the direct protection of the Montgomery Congl

Mr. Montgomery... you don't owe me an

tair replied coldly. "Arthur will arrange a

d walked out

shut, Valerie grabbed her phone

. "It worked. He believes I'm the girl from the Waldorf

ating. "Keep him close, Valerie. Play the wounded angel. Once we secure

oured over the gray step

her thin trench coat. Her fever had spiked during the night,

's private attorney stepped out, holding a black lea

umbrella. "The groom has already executed the proxy authorization through his fami

d at the si

printed name of her le

ngle personal signature. This man probably cared so little about this forced union he could not even be troub

ce. To her, he was just a faceless contract that

en. She pressed the nib to the p

reet, and stepped back into the car. "Your monthly allowance of two thousand dollars will be deposited on th

ashing dirty rainwater over

es, no husband. Just an administrative

ngs of Manhattan seemed to tilt on their axes. Her throat burned with every

She needed to see Liam's grave one

ike lead. She stumbled through the wet grass, collap

ing against the icy marble. "I couldn't pro

dy went limp, and she slumped forward into the wet grass, t

und her shivering violently in the mud

c, Hazel woke up to the smell of cheap antiseptic. A n

said, frowning. "You have severe bronchitis and phy

ide table. She had ninety dollars to her nam

cracked. She pulled the IV tape from h

ou can't

ear exit into the dark, rainy Manhattan night. The cold air hit h

find a bus stop, but the world was spin

ghts swept around the corn

knees gave out, and she collapsed directly into t