to the ground. Her suitcase tumbled from her hands, its weight meaningless compared to the crushing burd

er skin, her clothes. It felt as though the sky itself was weeping with her, the cold water mixing with the tears that had been streaming down her

she had known for so long was suddenly foreign, hostile. **Where would she go?** Her heart pounded, the reality sinking in. She

ilence of her despair. Her clothes clung to her, heavy with water and misery. Her body s

was coming for her. Ethan wasn't there. No familiar arms would wrap ar

dream, every hope she had held onto for so long felt like it had been washed away with the storm, leaving

behind her, its windows dark, watching her silently as if mocking her pain. She squeezed her eyes shut, tr

n by her feet. She had nowhere to go. No home, no love, no safety. Just the storm rag

d slammed shut behind her, locking her out both literally and figuratively. She had been cast aside like she was nothing, like she had never meant anything to this family. Her knees b

he had betrayed her. Every moment they had shared, every promise they had made to each other, played in her mind like a cru

The woman who had wormed her way into Ethan's life, despite her history, despite everything. Sofia Roth, t

ldn't be true. It just couldn't. But if it was, did that mean Ethan had no choice? Was he marrying Sofia because of the baby? Did he feel trapped?

fully as she tried to comprehend it. How could he leave her like this? After everything they had shared, after her parents died savin

She had no one in this world. No family. No home. She had nowhere to go. No money. N

family, and when her parents died, the Taylors took everything-their business, their properties. In exchange, they took Cloe in, raised her as one of their own. Or so she thought. B

to give up. Not like this. She wasn't some stray they could toss aside. She needed answers, and she wouldn't leave until she

dn't. This was her life, her love, her future. She wasn't ready to walk

hed her breath, trembling with fear as the storm grew fiercer, lightning flashing across the darkened sky. The wind whipped her hair around her face, and t

way. She wouldn't let them win. Ethan owed her the truth, and she wouldn't leave until he looked h

the window, watching as Cloe stood there, drenched and shaking, refusing to leave. Sofia's hands trembled as

uncanny-Cloe was exactly like her father, Jason William. That same unyielding spirit, that same determination that had driven Jaso

h of frustration in her eyes. Jason had been a thorn in her side for year

do? If Ethan sees her like this, he'll never let her g

curling into a cruel smile. "Let her stay outside. Let her s

's stubbornness was a problem, but Elizabeth's resolve was even stronger. The storm outside was growing

ring. "She'll either leave or the storm will take care of her.

ing, drenched in the heavy rain, lightning illuminating her silhouette against the dark sky. Cloe wasn't going any