ir places. The rich got richer, the poor struggled to survive, and fairy tale

't shake the memory

her hard-earned money on the street. But when he had bent down to help her, something shifted. The

he stepped onto the crowded e

d medicine. Their rent was due in two weeks. And the tip

d was the least

of St

and lavender filled the air. The heater rattled uselessly, leavi

curled under one of those blankets, h

eted, forcing a smile

eakly. "You look

forehead, brushing away a stray strand

" Margaret admitted, her v

things weren't as bad as they were. But every time her mother

ne," Elena said quick

and retrieved a nearly empty pill bottle. There we

n," she murmured, more t

a, I know things are h

her head. "We're not asking

They had this conversat

medicine, then sat beside

Margaret said after a w

H

hen you walked in.

er eyes. "I wa

rked. "You w

this

e sound weak but genuin

ith cold blue eyes had helped her pick up her change? That sh

omer at the diner

d look on her face said she didn't

prise

er-rushing between tables, refilling coffee cu

pered as she passe

nced over her shoulde

n Bla

d in yet another expensive suit. His presence

mposing herself b

e, no sugar?

ercing gaze meeting

You don't seem like the

musement flickered in his eyes. Then

t," he

eave, but his v

le

. He had never a

do

simply, as if that

arms. "And why w

studying her. "Becau

waitress at a rundown diner. Wh

t waver. "You'

mach twist. Was he

Blackwood," she said firmly. "People li

htly, as if analyzing h

to reply, but a loud

are you d

ay-haired man in an expensive

hed. "Mr.

is eyes narrowing. "Sir, you have an

ian replied,

lena, his disapproval cle

remained stead

ed to argue, but instead, he sigh

ned. "I don't live

ain before stepping back. "We'll

ed. "That w

d. "He works f

't like you wasting ti

"Something

omething human beneath his cold

speaking again. "Why

er, his expres

anted to see

t skippe

as dan

She Could

at beside her sleeping

onaire who, for some reas

it. She should f

told her thi

e was

owed up again. And this

ting his coffee down.

ed. "An a

't from my world. Someone w

ffed. "

said simply. "You don't care abo

heart

e. Working for

f her mother. The medi

ch?" sh

ore than you'r

is was a risk. But coul

forward. "Sa

ing in her mind, she fo

es