realized the message she had sent was stil

she let out a dry,

captain, golden boy of the aviation world-had probably

eary sigh, she pushed the door open, lifted

spilled out. "Irene, I already deleted that resignation letter. Do you have any idea how selfish you're being? Levi still needs tuition fo

rip the phone tighter. She had fired off her resignation afterward

"Sean, the person Mr. Smith truly loves has co

n't budge. "There was no way I was goin

he pedigree, which is why staying with Mr. Smith is your best shot." The calm way

eyes flew wide as she barked, "Se

e world treats women. Quit pushing back. Just stay wit

ad, the abrupt click

one, Irene breathed out

e cared for him-her entire family clung to her l

mth from Caiden had been enough to make her fall, despite knowing

he hallway. "So it's you, I

find Tobias looming in the dim light, his clothe

alcohol, leaving chaos wherever he went. The mess he created pushed his four kids

s had she expected to be the

ung the empty bottle aside and lurched after her. He caught her by t

-let go!" Irene cried,

Think you can run from me? If your mother hadn't risked her life for you, she wouldn't

about?" Irene queried, her voice trem

ound Irene never touched, the gr

n until he had already ripped her bag away. His other arm lifted, that big,

eezed her eyes shut, breath hit

grunt reache

in the air, pinned by the throat. A tall man had hi

ch line of him sharp and unforgiving. Long fingers dug into Tobias's windpipe

ried a dark, suffocating aura that p

arrestingly handsome, each line sharp as if carved with purpose. A pair of fierce brows framed a straight, elegant nose, but it was his eyes that stole the breath

und her, turning everything into a w

vision, as though the storm itself parte

len into some surreal dream. Then Henry's voice-low

he blinked, startled, and gave a

ff Tobias and let him drop, his expres

spotted a line of black-clad bodyguards storming toward them, the

g as he spat out a hoarse threat over his shoulder. "You'll fucking pa

.

after stepping back into her

d he really rushed over just because of that

thank-you, an awkward qu

ry standing there drenched, rain dripping from his sleeves, she blurted out

tte for a few quiet seconds before his a

armth, the kind that wrapped itself around a pe

s eyes landed on a full row of nutrition books lining the shelf. His jaw t

s eye. Wedged in the shadows were several well-worn medical journals and a yellowed

a small but stubborn piece o

e cabinets, terrified she had kept him waiting too long. She gr

nished thought choking off while

there with

lf-broad shoulders tapering into a tight waist, the

from him, a raw kind of mascul

pearing into the waistband of his dark suit pants. Her gaze followed one bead too long-

e spun, instinctively trying to

against her back as he braced a

heartbeat thundered in her e

y leaned in slightly, his tone low and uny