ion, he had pursued her with a singular focus. He' d show up at her studio with her favorite takeout, his presence a silent, comforting weight in the chaotic world of fashion. He' d listen for

aid, his voice leaving no room fo

her grou

money and nowhere to go. Your father has cut you off, and he sent those m

he thought that he knew about the marriage proposal and did nothing, said nothing

ur business," she s

re an undeniable fact of nature. He opened the car door. "G

The car was an extension of him-impersonal, luxurious, and suffoc

ad been their home. It felt alien no

gesturing down the hall. "I' ll have some

"This is temporary, Liam. I' m not staying. I' m not one of your projec

ing out at the glittering city lights below. "You think it' s that easy? To just walk away and start over with noth

furiating. "You don' t

tly. "I know you need this. The comfort, the sec

een, and his entire demeanor changed. The coldness melted away, replace

his," he said, al

ar the low murmur of his voice from the other room. It was the same s

t in a grim line. "That was Olivia. She' s..

hrilled that I' m right back where she want

heart is weak. Any kind of stress is dangerous for her." He ran a hand through his hair, a rare sign o

could never compete with, was like swallowing glass. It shredded what was left of her he

ed, her voice dangerously quiet. "Accept that I

idn' t have to. The sil

ing to lose herself in her work. The silence between them for t

in a perfectly tailored suit.

th you," she said without l

rty. For Olivia. Her family is hosting it to celebrate her recent

o had systematically destroyed her life. He wanted her to stand there and smile, playing the

ce shaking with suppresse

will go, Chloe. You will put on a nice dress, and you will smile, and

She had no choice. She was trapped again, not by thugs in an alley, but by the man who claimed to care for her