voice hit m

called, Amelia? Wha

rom the kitchen sink,

face tight with anger and the familiar desperation

ld you, Eth

that surgery. That Vanderbilt mon

ling, and the doctors said only a miracle

Dad. I'

d to upset Ethan Vanderbilt. Or Leo..." He didn' t finish, he d

y, a charity gala crawlin

cked, smiled until my face ached, but he was always across the roo

m near the gardens.

cold. "About what, Mia? Your rive

I whispered,

' t be dramatic. You' re here, aren' t you?

. From upstate.

eyes, his dismissal clinging to me like chea

hrilled, ma

re I could. "Vanderbilt," he mouthed, his

me, his expression stern. "I

e, my hand trem

Ethan' s voice was cli

lick of him

d him. Go. And for God' s sake, Am

nd from the wrong side of the tracks, clinging to t

e was a blur of city lights an

hoped. Maybe he felt bad. Maybe he wanted to apologize. Maybe, just maybe, he'

eo I kept in my wallet. His sm

do this

five years, nodded me through. I still had a key, a rel

ctly into his apartment.

w murmur of voices, a

eart

ving area, the expensiv

en before. She was stunning, all sharp angles and expensive-looking blonde hair, draped over

d up as I stepp

n' t guilt, or even sur

are you do

was – didn' t move, just watched me with a cool,

," I stammered, fee

abella slightly. He didn' t seem to care. "Actuall

nicured hand, her eyes glinting

he were discussing the weather. "Isabe

tealing the air fro

it quickly turned to disdain. "You were always a bit... much, Mi

arded. And he didn' t even hav