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.

Chapter 529 [ 542 words ] Chapter 529: At the far end of the table, Peregrine pushed his chair back. He stood, pulling the earbuds from where they hung loosely around his neck. He glanced down the long table at Caroline, his mouth twisting into something that wasn’t quite a

Chapter 528 [ 500 words ] Chapter 528: They were dragged from the room, their cries echoing down the long marble hall before being abruptly cut off by the heavy, final thud of a closing door. The dining room was silent once more. The storm had passed. Caroline took a

Chapter 527 [ 502 words ] Chapter 527: A sound of pure, animalistic despair tore from Harper’s throat. She shoved her chair aside, the legs screeching in protest against the floor. “I hate this house!” she screamed, tears of rage and impotence blinding her. “I hate all of you!” She

Chapter 526 [ 519 words ] Chapter 526: “Let’s review the physics, shall we? The bowl fell from your hands. The primary direction of the spill was forward and down, toward my feet. If I had thrown it at you, the splash pattern would be centered on your dress, not

Chapter 525 [ 499 words ] Chapter 525: She ladled a portion of the hot, fragrant stew into a clean bowl. She held it out, an offering of peace, a chance to end the hostilities. Harper stared at the bowl. Her eyes, still red-rimmed from her earlier tears, narrowed. The

Chapter 524 [ 504 words ] Chapter 524: “You can,” the General said, his voice softer now, but no less final. “And you will. That is an order, Agnes.” The staff moved quickly, placing two elegant but simple chairs near the sideboard rather than directly at the family table. The

Chapter 523 [ 485 words ] Chapter 523: The silence that followed was absolute. It was as if she had detonated a bomb that made no sound. Every person at the table froze. Forks stopped halfway to mouths. Glasses were held suspended in mid-air. Agnes’s face went white with sheer

Chapter 522 [ 470 words ] Chapter 522: Peregrine took one reluctant bite of stew. His expression changed before he could stop it. It was small, almost invisible: the brief loosening of his mouth, the flicker of surprise in his eyes. Then his face slammed shut again. Caroline saw it

Chapter 521 [ 494 words ] Chapter 521: Peregrine’s face flushed dark red. His hand curled around the stem of his water glass hard enough that his knuckles went white. “You think you’re clever,” he said, his voice low and vicious. “No,” Caroline replied. “I think I’m tired.” The simplicity

Chapter 520 [ 525 words ] Chapter 520: The lighthearted moment faded, not shattered, as Caroline noticed the places that had not been set. Two chairs along the left side of the table remained conspicuously empty, their settings removed entirely. No Chanel suit. No brittle smile. No poisonous little laugh.