an'

containing my frustration. G

ld keep her at bay, but no-here she

how I found your address," my mother s

g is that we're her

he same irritating, overly made-up woman s

yly, and I supp

ad to choose this one. Her persistence was

n, I d

ther interrupted, w

together? I'll just be outside ad

oward me and left the room, c

then turned my icy gaze to the woman

began, her voice

eally introduce ourselves back then." She off

u just been stalking me?" I asked coldly,

began stepping back. "O-of

inst the wall. My face was inche

re cooking up. The fact is, I hate clinging, desperate women. Let

s began to spill down he

I continued, my tone

etic. I have standards, Fiona, and you

. Blind to not see what's right in front of you. I'll wait for yo

room, her words still

ked to

at, Fiona. In your

h her. She could go r

t give

nson Chap

xpansive hallways, admiring the int

success, though his cold demeanor alwa

ears-a soft, heart-wrenching sob. I f

an's

nd I followed the sound to a room

shed the door open, revealing a

neath her. Shards of glass were embedded in he

obs tore a

de, careful to avoid the glass.

words, "Please... help me, ma'am...

act quickly. I ran to find help, s

woman is badly in

ng at each other nervo

ng!" I snapped, and they finall

woman, her blood staining their

hallway, Bryan appeared, h

u're taking her without my permission?" he deman

their expression

eding to death?" I retorted, fu

rules here, Mom. You don't do anything i

d for a moment, I ha

long gone, replaced by

ou don't help her now, she'll d

on. "If she dies in your house, you'll face t

ne. He barked an order into the receive

her room," he inst

r. In the meantime, have Philip use t

ds carried her back,

ed, snapping me o

noting the familiar

," he said, his hands

red hi

n?" I pressed, unwilling

nd as for the reason you are here, let me make m

ou," he added, his tone dism

d him toward the exit

tiful, well-mannered, and comes from a good

turned to face me, hi

nd I don't want her, Mom. T

e over the company without a wife by you

said, his tone firm. "I'll

for me, signaling the

y, looking hopeful. Bryan

ay and walked back into the mansion,

she buried her face in my shoulder. I wrappe

ething out," I said softly, though

ck to my hou

found myself questioning if pushing Bry