's

ldn't

illow, or buried my face in the sheets, my mind

elf in front of the en

yone, but Ty

sing my hands to

ne made me feel so small. If Tyler had scolded me

he ha

voice gentle, his eyes k

t made i

e have to

er's

d to my suite, freshened

mails to

nts to

s to

of clothing and

ugh escape

I had caught a sligh

phone, I dialed

?" a voice

tle of red win

t away

there was a kn

ent assistant, walke

your

ank

ass, letting the warm

"Sir... are you

off. "Just

nvinced, but nodde

to leave, my s

smi

oice was playful. "You're

rked.

preferred he

the holidays. Can't you stop be

led. "I'

o how have u been, how is Emerald , an

ine please , ther

op changing the t

ends did Adriana come home

many and "Lisa is

all I care, am not

e, in Der

scrolling through his phone as Mona placed

lower than necessary, her d

k smi

re so pre

atching her. "What

her lashes.

eyeing her

hat you see?

llowed. "

mirk widen

closer, his fingers

ed, "I don't do relati

hitched. "That'

ning a hand through

art

his lips hove

k the

a ob

rning – A Bi

ate was buzzing

lexandra family members, their guests, and

t the head of the tabl

family tradition. A time for unity. But this year,

e leaned

g the servers, coul

park," Mr. Alexandra announced. "And before the

filled

rek exchanged k

ine s

Tyler

ut

w tig

own empire. I had never wanted

was up for grabs a

uld be a

avesdropping,

s holiday was about to

l or something. I had a change of clothing wore my golden accessories and looked at the

stive decorations lit up the place, and shoppers moved around cheerf

out the new men's collection

n the mood for shopping.

enly stopped in my tracks. My breath hitch

lo

ly with a man. Her hand rested protectively ov

throat

nothing. All he could hear was h

ra t

r eye

ter died o

elt. Then, as if drawn by something unseen, she mu

willing himself to move,

ice was softer t

r lips felt foreign. Like so

him, then back at Tyler. Her lips part

een a lo

said flatl

g over her belly,a silent remind

ood," she sa

s into his pockets. "Yeah? Well, I can't sa

htly, looking dow

between them, thick

words slipped out befo

breath

away. "He's

an an

harply, shaking

efore speaking a

but firm. "Whatever it is, whatever e

hard, guilt fla

th knew

t of the same background status. They had made her believe

e they we

the end, s

to say something more, but i

hould

Ye

ime, then turned, walking

for a long moment

at had once been his

broke the s

his jaw. "Let's

ther glance back