LOGINThe striking, facial structure. Sydney is an absolute, undeniable replica of the woman in the vintage photograph—Tobias’s mother. The almost psychotic protectiveness Tobias has shown toward Sydney from the very first moment he met her. The massive financial safety nets he threw under her, the fact
Before I can even open my mouth to apologize for breaking into his house, Tobias speaks. His voice is incredibly quiet, completely devoid of its usual sharp authority, yet it carries a heavy, haunting weight that pins me right to the carpet. "For years..." he murmurs, his finger continuing its slow
I stand frozen on the gravel path, the engine of Sydney’s departing car roaring in my ears. I watch the taillights of her vehicle bounce over the cemetery threshold, disappearing completely from sight, and with every inch of distance she puts between us, my heart shatters into a million jagged, irre
My throat locks up. I’ve seen Owen angry, I’ve seen him arrogant, and I’ve seen him lethal in a courtroom. But I have never seen him cry like this. "I am so sorry for leaving you in that jail cell, Sydney," he whispers again, his voice cracking completely now as he stares down at my lips. "I know n
The second Owen’s fingers touch the chrome handle of his sleek black sedan, I violently twist out of his reach. I yank myself away from his side, clutching the lapels of his oversized designer suit jacket against my chest like a shield. He freezes, his hand dropping from the door as he whips his he
My stomach completely drops. The press. The paparazzi who were banned from the main service have already spotted the commotion from the outer gates. Long, heavy camera lenses are already poking through the iron bars, the rapid, machine-gun clicking of shutters filling the air as they capture every
I force the image of Sydney’s cold, beautiful face out of my mind. I push the memory of her floral scent into a dark corner and focus on the woman standing in front of me. I open my arms, offering a small, sad smile. "Come here." She hesitates for a heartbeat, then collapses into me, burying her f
A crystal vase, the one I bought Georgia on her last birthday in Greece, shatters against the wall just inches from my head. Water and shards of glass spray across the silk duvet, but I don't move. I don't even blink from the shock impact of it being near my head. "You piece of shit! I hate you!
"Alright, everyone! That’s a wrap on Scene 42. Take thirty, and when we come back, we tackle the finale!" Jeffery’s voice booms across the studio, and for the first time today, I actually let out a breath that doesn't feel like it’s being squeezed out of my lungs. My shoulders drop about three inch
Suddenly, the library is silent. I’m flushed against him, my hands resting on his shoulders for balance. He’s looking down at me, the tip of his nose brushing against mine. I can feel the warmth of his skin, the faint scent of expensive scotch and sandalwood fanning over my face. Our breaths are in







