tulips Isabelle had once planted with care, the whol

ing laugh escaped

out the lipstick she had forgotten, handing it back to her. They exchanged

eating display. She stepped back from the

ed only one section-garments mostly in white

e always wore white dresses to please hi

ft Isabelle fe

e closet. Inside were her ID, passport, bank car

s the cover of the folder hit her like a

leeting glance bef

ever managed to send, the source of her

, she switched it on and scr

en she saw the name

e number of her best

answered, her voice trembling with a

st out furiously, "Listen, if you're that bastard Kolton, I swear I'll drag you acros

and nostalgic feeling in her che

le knew her friend's habits well. She pulled the phon

e me the address, and I'll rush to you this second. You've been in a vegetative state for five whole years, and every

d done it deliberately, cutting her off f

best friend, but now w

But I need you to help me wit

ly, I could hire someone to finish Kolton off for keeping

real friendshi

point. "I need you to look into Kolton's secretary

ce during these five years, acting like his wife. I've alway

e went

ecretary, brought in by Kolton while she

n Kolton and Joelle ha

he second thing?

arrange for some gardeners to come to my place? I w

s!" Katrina

in surprise. "H

after Kolton had declared his love for tulips, she had buri

her since college. How

eve he was right. Your favorite

ing about?" Isabe

er utterly. "Nathaniel Gi

made Isabelle

she remem

schievous, was carved into her

en Nathaniel was seven y

on's call came. Without a second thought, she turned b

ht. The glow of the setting sun spilled behind him, leaving his striking fac

kind of man who kept his distance. Isabe

es were colder than

eyes, she saw her ref

forget the last wo

, is it w

commanding, his fine

hed past with unshaken determin

finally had

rror, Isabelle murmured, "No, it was not worth i