Chapter 549 [ 464 words ] Chapter 549: Beatrix locked her phone and looked up, her expression a carefully constructed mask of indifference. “Obviously,” she drawled, her voice dripping with scorn. “What was I supposed to do? Let you die and bleed all over my shoes?” The words were classic

Chapter 548 [ 486 words ] Chapter 548: A tinny, bureaucratic voice crackled back, talking about procedures, about waiting until the next scheduled stop. Beatrix exploded. “You listen to me, you useless little transit jockey!” she roared, her voice a raw, furious weapon. “If this woman dies, I will personally

Chapter 547 [ 513 words ] Chapter 547: She leaned back against the pole, her body slick with a cold sweat. She watched Beatrix, now forced to stand, clinging awkwardly to an overhead strap, trying to balance in her ridiculous shoes. A strange thought pierced through the fog of her

Chapter 546 [ 495 words ] Chapter 546: The socialite from the bar. The owner of the dog she had rescued. Her nemesis. Beatrix looked her up and down, her lip curling in a sneer of pure disgust. “My God,” she said, her voice loud enough for everyone nearby to

Chapter 545 [ 481 words ] Chapter 545: She couldn’t stay. She couldn’t ruin their night. She had to get out. “I think I need to call it a night,” she said, fumbling for her purse. “I’ll come with you,” Brenna said instantly, already starting to slide out of the

Chapter 544 [ 512 words ] Chapter 544: The tension in his shoulders visibly eased. A look of profound relief washed over his face. “I’ll hold you to that,” he said. “Next time you have a question about a tricky suture, you’re not allowed to hesitate to call me.” Just

Chapter 543 [ 499 words ] Chapter 543: Caroline sat in their reserved booth, nursing a glass of water, and sighed. Brenna’s love for this particular brand of culinary self-flagellation was something she would never understand. Ten minutes later, the restaurant’s heavy wooden door swung open, and Brenna swept in,

Chapter 542 [ 499 words ] Chapter 542: A wave of self-criticism washed over her. Her own mother, for all her faults, was an incredible cook. She would be horrified to see her daughter, a grown woman, completely incapable of feeding herself. As if summoned by her thoughts, her phone

Chapter 541 [ 480 words ] Chapter 541: She pulled the door open a crack. He was holding a large, insulated black bag with a discreet, gold-stamped logo on the side. It was from Alinea, one of D.C.’s most exclusive and ridiculously expensive restaurants. “Mrs. Romero?” the man asked, his

Chapter 540 [ 475 words ] Chapter 540: “Jarrod Romero!” A low, sexy chuckle came from the other end. He sounded completely unfazed. Triumphant, even. “You’re awake,” he said. It wasn’t a question. It was a statement of fact. His ability to predict her every move was infuriating. “How did

Chapter 539 [ 498 words ] Chapter 539: She reached out a hand, her fingers searching for the warmth of the body that should have been beside her. Her hand met only cool, empty sheets. Her eyes snapped open. The space next to her was empty. The pillow was cold.

Chapter 538 [ 549 words ] Chapter 538: The stairs were quiet beneath their feet. He climbed ahead of her, one hand useless, one arm bound, his shoulders tense with the effort of keeping his balance and his pride intact. Once, near the landing, his boot caught slightly on the

Chapter 537 [ 541 words ] Chapter 537: He stopped beside the sofa and stood over her, breathing hard from more than the walk. For a moment, his gaze dropped to her sleeping face with a hunger so raw it bordered on pain. He did not slide his arms beneath

Chapter 536 [ 477 words ] Chapter 536: She felt a pang of guilt for the lie she’d told the General. To make herself feel better, she went to the kitchen, found a cloth under the sink, and made a half-hearted attempt to wipe down the dusty marble of the

Chapter 535 [ 503 words ] Chapter 535: She walked to the desk. “Grandpa,” she said softly. “I’m going to head out. I think I’ll spend a few days at the Georgetown house.” The smile vanished from his face. It was replaced by a deep, disapproving frown. “What for? Jarrod’s

Chapter 534 [ 501 words ] Chapter 534: She didn’t let him get away with it. She gripped the phone tighter, her knuckles turning white. “Just answer the question, Jarrod. Was there a serious ex-girlfriend? Yes or no.” Her directness was met not with anger, but with a low, lazy

Chapter 533 [ 482 words ] Chapter 533: Caroline looked down at the marble floor of the foyer, at the reflection of the chandelier broken into pale shards beneath her feet. What did she really know about the man on the other end of the line? She knew his discipline.

Chapter 532 [ 491 words ] Chapter 532: Her own small, personal drama suddenly felt trivial. The anger was gone, replaced by a familiar, aching worry. “Are you busy?” she asked, her voice softening, losing its defensive edge. “Have you eaten anything today?” A low chuckle rumbled through the phone.

Chapter 531 [ 494 words ] Chapter 531: “I worked for that license,” she said, her voice cracking slightly. “I spent years, countless sleepless nights, studying for it. It’s mine. It’s the one thing that’s truly mine.” The amusement in his voice vanished, replaced by something deeper, softer. Something that

Chapter 530 [ 637 words ] Chapter 530: In his right hand, he held a slim tablet. The screen was on. “Alistair, I’m in a hurry,” she said, trying to sidestep him. “I need to call Washington General.” He didn’t move. He simply adjusted the gold-rimmed glasses on his nose.