, was a shark, exactly what I needed. He specialized in compl

va," Marcus had warned. "Men

d. "I have eviden

oned off from my own successful architectural firm over months, a q

for securing his dynasty. My timeline was for my escape, my erasure from his

livered his "legitimate" heir. I would leave him wit

wore it, knotted casually around his neck, with one of his

. He touched it, a self-sa

. "Sophia was right, it was in my sock drawe

represented to me. The sight of it on him, s

ything under control: his adoring wife, his soon-

ophia staged her

ting the cook, when we heard

her stomach, her face contorted i

n, his face a

an to Sophia's

Liam demanded, kn

d, pointing at me. "She pushed Sop

in agreement. "Ava b

l children to me, my face froz

s. He knew I wouldn't physically harm a preg

d up the sleeve of her little dress. A larg

wailed. "She said I was a

d fresh, deliber

Liam's doubt vanished,

s voice dangerously low. "How could you? First So

se itching started on my arms. Red welts began to rise

preparing. Sophia had been near them.

at my throat. "Help me..

ould barely breathe. The anaph

e a mixture of anger and..

e cold as ice. "Trying to deflect blame with

tion solely on Sophia, who was now

g her hair. "I'm here. I'll take you to the

, leaving me choking on the floor, the accusing eyes of the chi