s hand. His jaw clenched, his dark gray ey

voice dropped low and dangerous, his tall fr

into the small trash bin b

, Mr. Hamilton. I have a cab w

s let out a cold

t walk away? Since you're so eager to play the hired help tonig

loor in her red stilettos. She slid her slender hand onto Ch

Anabella pleaded softly, leaning

? You threw this huge party for me instead of going home, and even mad

rd was calculated to remind Chas that Gracie

y. "A contract marriage doesn't have

ively on her husband's arm. Once, the sight woul

racie sai

steel thermos on the black marble coffe

ir-sealed inside the thermos, the h

ioning herself so that her body subtly b

abella sighed, casting a

sleep? I used to stay up late brewing sweet herbal tea that

d stilled ov

honey and herbal tea for Chas every night, leaving it outside his dorm door anonymou

old and steady as she picked up a porcelain bowl.

d enough for Chas to hear, her voice trembling with staged fear. "Please don't be mad a

ew, Anabella dropped the innocent act, her l

a dog for two years, and all it took was one smile from me for him to di

er hand back, Anabella's m

d Gracie's right wrist and shoved the open th

nearly the entire thermos of scalding broth poured directly over her right slee

h Gracie's black cashmere sleeve in a

e shuddered as white-hot pain radiated up

Anabella threw herself backward onto the

her barely pink fingertip as if it had been dipped in acid. "I didn

you lost your damn

ged forward to reach Anabella, his broad shoulder

rp corner of the marble table, fire

lance. He dropped to one knee an

tained face into his chest

in London! If my hands are ruined, I'll never be able to play the harp for you

uninjured left hand, Gracie forced herself to

eady. "She grabbed my wrist and shoved the thermos onto me

my fault! I burned myself on purpose! Gracie, if saying that makes you st

ery shred of reason. He glared up at G

e!" Chas barked, the ve

d to ruin her hands out of spite! Anabella saved my life ten years ago-if ther

down at her

oth had soaked her entire sleeve. Beneath the scalding, matted fibers,

and looked straight into

her voice quiet and lethal. "Look d

her hanging right arm and the wet fabric clinging to her wrist. Some

wailed desperately, wrapping her arms around his n

ered Chas's br

uld ever lie to him, he forced

lf for trying to hurt her!" Chas snapped coldly. Risin

r room! I don't want to see your face

A

ny doors slammed

remained but shattered porcelain and the hea

ly gave out, and she

w, violent tremors wracking her frame as burn shoc

Hamilton family had just been bu

nd to pull out her phone. The screen lit up her blood

3 Hours, 4

nic, pushed herself up from the floor, and walked out into the cold hotel hal