down at the girl standing on the gravel driveway. As a r

had been missing for eighteen years. To him, Alison w

as backpack, Javen frowned slightly. He ga

d past Javen with an icy expression, rubb

liteness on her, Jav

like an enemy the entire ride. When I offered to buy her a decent dress on Fi

aven's handsome face. He was fiercely protective of his mother; h

ght, hurried footsteps ech

aven! Is A

ess hurried out through the double doors. It was Brook Gallagher

le on her face, Brook looked like a pure, harmless angel. She hurr

ght with rehearsed excitement. "I've been waiting for you all

ook reached straight for the strap

m medical instruments and an encrypted laptop--and more im

on calmly took half a step back and shifted her sho

y own things," Alison sai

even brushed

e of sight from the top of the stairs, Brook suddenly brushed her own fingers against Alison's sleev

A

e crystal bracelet on her wrist snapped against the marbl

ro

n's face. The aloof actor bounded down the steps th

e wrist, fury flared in his chest. He had watched Brook grow up since s

whipping his head around to glare at Alison

ide eyes. She clutched Javen's suit sleeve tightly, sha

" Brook cried softly, biting her l

to touch her bag without asking. She grew up alone in the mountains and doesn

n, yet every single sentence pinned the bl

you! First she twists my wrist in the car, and the second she arrives at our front door,

aven didn't have a shadow of a doubt left. Whatever faint guilt he mi

of Brook to shield her with his broad frame

, Alison," Javen said,

e about. She's gentle and kind, unlike someone as aggressive and ungrateful as you. If

ow them, her hands resting casually

d at the blind, arrogant brother standing in front of her. She didn't bother defending hersel

's lips. Her sharp amber eyes locked straight

," Alison said evenly. "Since your sister is as fragile as spun glass, ke

arkened with fury at he

ht past the three of them. She stepped through the grand double doors of the mansion withou