Chapter 506 [ 502 words ] Chapter 506: A surge of hot, violent anger shot through Caroline. She pushed herself off the counter, her fists clenched at her sides. “That’s not love,” she hissed, the words torn from her throat. “That’s a sickness. That’s possession.” “It was a prison,” Agnes

Chapter 505 [ 546 words ] Chapter 505: In that horrifying story, Caroline saw it all. The root of Jarrod’s coldness, his deep-seated hatred for his family’s power, his fierce, almost pathological need to protect what was his. He had spent his entire life watching a predator, and he had

Chapter 504 [ 535 words ] Chapter 504: The name, Leland, had an immediate, chilling effect. The warmth vanished from Agnes’s face. Her smile disappeared. Her hands, resting on her lap, clenched into tight fists, twisting the fabric of her apron. A look of profound, old-world fear and disgust flickered

Chapter 503 [ 496 words ] Chapter 503: “Agnes, no,” Caroline said, walking over and gently but firmly taking the peeler from the older woman’s hand. “You’ve been on your feet all day. Go sit.” She pointed to a tall stool tucked into the corner of the massive kitchen island.

Chapter 502 [ 542 words ] Chapter 502: Carson stood at attention, his face grim. “Sir, the report notes that Walter Thompson was a former NSA cryptographer. A deep dive into this could attract unwanted attention from… very powerful people in this city. And Colonel Romero’s initial intelligence suggests he

Chapter 501 [ 511 words ] Chapter 501: She didn’t fully understand the depth of his metaphor, the history of poison that he was alluding to, but she understood the intent. It was a declaration of protection. For her. He was clearing the ground so she could grow. She chose

Chapter 500 [ 525 words ] Chapter 500: “You see!” she shrieked, pointing a trembling finger at Caroline. “That’s what she does! She plays the victim, the poor little orphan nurse, and she twists you around her little finger! She’s a manipulative, social-climbing witch!” The General rose slowly to his

Chapter 499 [ 534 words ] Chapter 499: Harper seized the opening like a shark sensing blood. She set her wine glass down with a delicate, deliberate click. “Well, well, look what the cat dragged in,” she said, her voice dripping with condescending sweetness. “We were beginning to think you

Chapter 498 [ 539 words ] Chapter 498: The silver fork in Cornelia Romero’s hand clattered against her porcelain plate. The sound was unnaturally loud in the tense silence. Her face was a mask of disbelief. In this house, meals were served at precise times. Punctuality was a sign of

Chapter 497 [ 525 words ] Chapter 497: She smiled, a faint, sleepy expression of contentment. The thought of sleeping in the room he grew up in, surrounded by the faint echoes of his past, felt right. It felt like coming home. She turned and followed Agnes up the grand,

Chapter 496 [ 498 words ] Chapter 496: Caroline didn’t call him on his bravado. She just smiled, a soft, understanding expression. In her eyes, he wasn’t a four-star general. He was just a stubborn old man who needed to be cared for. He found the thought strangely comforting. A

Chapter 495 [ 527 words ] Chapter 495: Caroline sat back down on the sofa, unfazed. “And what is the lady of the manor supposed to do all day? Sit around and plan parties? Go shopping?” She shook her head. “Is that what you want for me, General? To be

Chapter 494 [ 500 words ] Chapter 494: Caroline’s cheeks flushed, but she didn’t protest. She was suddenly, ravenously hungry. Agnes returned moments later with a steaming, oversized porcelain bowl and a basket of thick-sliced bread. Caroline picked up the heavy silver spoon and dug in. She ate with a

Chapter 493 [ 528 words ] Chapter 493: To her utter astonishment, the General sided with her husband. “He’s right!” he declared, pointing a finger at her. “You look like a ghost. I’m going to have you on a high-calorie diet. We’ll have ten pounds back on you in a

Chapter 492 [ 511 words ] Chapter 492: “My doctor is a sadist,” the General declared, settling into the cushions with a grateful sigh. “He’s got me on this decaffeinated coffee. It tastes like mud. I’m convinced it’s a plot by the Russians.” Caroline laughed, a warm, genuine sound that

Chapter 491 [ 522 words ] Chapter 491: In that instant, a bond deeper than blood, forged in shared worry and genuine affection, solidified in her heart. In this vast, cold, powerful family, this man, this gruff, intimidating soldier, was the only one who truly, unconditionally, loved her. All the

Chapter 490 [ 564 words ] Chapter 490: Dr. Julian Croft had remained on the periphery, a silent, motionless witness to the entire drama. He watched the black Lincoln Navigator pull away from the curb and merge seamlessly into traffic. A bitter, hollow feeling settled in his chest. He finally

Chapter 489 [ 542 words ] Chapter 489: Alistair then turned his head slightly, his gaze sweeping across the stunned crowd, but his words were still for Caroline. “General Romero has been waiting. He was… insistent that I bring you home without delay.” He addressed the crowd at large, his

Chapter 488 [ 509 words ] Chapter 488: “In the District of Columbia,” Caroline said, her voice perfectly calm, “defamation is a civil tort. Specifically, slander per se. Accusing a woman of sexual misconduct to undermine her professional standing qualifies.” The sound cut through the bickering. Everyone, including Brenna and

Chapter 487 [ 497 words ] Chapter 487: She turned her head, not bothering to face them fully. “Do you have something you want to say to me, Vivian?” Her voice was quiet, but it cut through their chatter like a shard of ice. Vivian Rusk, the ringleader, was taken