nlight. The pieces clicked into place with horrifying clarity. The way her stepmother always subtly praised Olivia while undermining Chloe. The

deep it made her sick. She looked from her stepmother' s falsely s

"Chloe, this isn' t the time. We' r

ing. "You' re selling me like livestock to a dying man to

"Nathan' s family is offering you a future. Something Liam

e has been a lie? That the woman you brought into our home has been working w

t. "Chloe, I don' t know what you' re talking about. Liam and I are just fr

toward her. "I saw the locket. I' ve seen the way he looks

er heel and stormed past t

ing?" her father shouted. "Yo

king back. "I don' t want anything from t

ight. Freedom felt terrifying and exhilarating. The first thing she did was walk into the most expensive boutique on the b

shoes with dangerously high heels and purses that cost more than a car. It was reckless, a frantic attempt to buy back a piece of herself, to erase the last three years with a m

She tried to order breakfast, but the hotel phone line was dead. A moment later, a s

s to be a problem with your card," he said

That' s impossibl

times. It' s been frozen

e was cut off. The life of luxury she had taken for granted, the safety net of wealth, was gone. She w

reality of her situation crashed down on her. She had no money, no home, and no one to call. As she walk

g her path. She recognized them instantly. They were collecto

le unpleasant. "Your father is very worrie

ice shaking but firm. She tried to step aro

the second man said

s was the consequence of her defiance. She was going to be dragged ba

side them. The back door flew open, and Liam stepped out. His face was a thundercloud,

s voice was a low growl, mo

ous glance. They knew wh

e stammered. "We' re just fol

m said, moving to stand in front of Chloe,

third time. They practically scr

inside her. Relief, anger, humiliation. He had sav

er new, defiant clothes, the single bag she carried. The fury

anded, his voice laced with ice. "Running away? Maxing out

oncerned. He was asking because she had disobeyed him, broken the rules of their carefully