PTE

spoken. Lisa pushed back her chair, ready to leave for work. Just

commanding tone that left no room for debate.

h of heat she despised. She hated how authoritative h

free and walked

*

ny gates when her phone buzzed. A new

lines. It's onl

est ti

e left it instantly – eyes on he

t even try to h

their phones, shaking their heads as though t

ting. But with every mocking glance, she knew – someone was

clutching a bundle of tabloids. "M

s tightening as her eyes

From Hidden Identit

o admit. Photos filled the pages – grainy shots of her shieldi

lurred, betrayal and humiliat

snapping the paper shut. She handed it back

en", Mrs. Bronson said,

rble, and turned slowly to face the cluste

er voice firm enough

thing – this company carries my name. Mock me again,

sh fell, the weight of he

r gaze sweeping over each face

e forward, the tabloids tucked unde

r off

ments, her desk littered with reports. She bar

ried a quiet weight, "I didn't think

und the pen. "You mean....you thoug

his gaze sweeping over the

o test you. To see if you were truly ready. And I'll

ghtened, "Bu

ures. "You came back stronger. You're proving me wrong with every

uch words, and it sent a warmth through her he

shifted, fir

d when the weight feels too heavy, lean on your husb

his, h

est tightened. Lean on my husband? How could she, when every

nted to tell her father, to spill the suspicion

aybe the part of her that still d

s – a contract, nothing more. H

is attention. The kind of protection he gave so easily in

t the office, Lisa was left alone with the silence – caugh

breathless, "thank you for approving the Thompson

l worked hard for it. Just make sure the deadl

odded, eyes shining.

d, she allowed herself to feel like she belonged here – not just as the only hei

starting toward the lobby, unaware that out

e through security, recorder already rai

lain why you lived under a

steps f

ity? Did Joseph Bronson know he wasn't the first to hold your ring?" the

st like iron. She opened her mouth

ur ex-husband? What

ting power that made the crows recoil. His eyes pinne

steady and merciless, "and I'll erase your career so comp

fore relief could settle, slow, deliberate c

Car

gaze fixed on Lisa, "Still as dramatic as ever,

blood r

him close, their faces inches apart. His voice dropped t

ph warned, eyes burnin