Chapter 101 [ 500 words ] Chapter 101: She closed her eyes. She assumed the SUV was heading toward the massive iron gates of the Romero estate in Georgetown. She mentally prepared herself for the vicious, toxic environment of his family. The car cabin was completely silent. Jarrod didn’t ask

Chapter 100 [ 519 words ] Chapter 100: “Hand over your ID badges and your security keycards. Right now,” he demanded. “You are both placed on indefinite paid administrative leave, effective immediately. You will not step foot in this hospital until HR and the legal department conclude their investigation.” The

Chapter 99 [ 452 words ] Chapter 99: “You are a liar!” Melanie shrieked. In her blind rage, Melanie threw her arms out to point at Caroline. Her right arm, the supposedly crippled, severely injured arm, shot out of the sling and waved wildly in the air with perfect, fluid

Chapter 98 [ 515 words ] Chapter 98: Caroline walked toward the elevator, her footsteps steady and unhurried. She had won this round. But she knew with absolute certainty that Melanie would not stop. And the next time, the trap might not be so easy to dismantle. Melanie’s face drained

Chapter 97 [ 509 words ] Chapter 97: “Furthermore,” Caroline continued, driving the point home, “I would ask you to examine Nurse Corbett’s shoulder yourself. Right now. The sling can be removed temporarily. If the injury is as severe as she claims, the swelling and bruising should be evident. A

Chapter 96 [ 544 words ] Chapter 96: “As you know, Nurse Corbett filed a formal complaint earlier this week regarding an alleged physical altercation in the women’s locker room,” Cromwell began, his words careful and measured. “We’ve conducted the initial HR intake interviews, but Nurse Corbett has now presented

Chapter 95 [ 495 words ] Chapter 95: She threw the napkins in the trash and walked out of the break room, heading toward the stairwell. She had survived the HR interview. She had survived Melanie’s provocation. Now she just needed to get out of this hospital before the fragile

Chapter 94 [ 487 words ] Chapter 94: “The interview went fine,” Caroline said, her voice a flat, freezing whisper. “I told them the truth. I never touched your throat, Melanie. Whatever bandage you’re wearing, you put there yourself.” The words struck Melanie like a physical blow. Her face contorted,

Chapter 93 [ 519 words ] Chapter 93: She pulled a small vial of clear liquid from her pocket, the same kind she had used to frame Caroline once before, and stared at it, her lips twisting into a sick, manic smile. “If I can’t get her fired for assault,”

Chapter 92 [ 534 words ] Chapter 92: Melanie was holding a plastic medical tray. Her eyes were locked onto the gold foil logo on the white paper bag. Her face was completely pale. Her neck was wrapped in a thick bandage, a dramatic white collar of gauze that seemed

Chapter 91 [ 468 words ] Chapter 91: “Good,” Jarrod warned, his voice cold and absolute. “Maintaining your cover is smart. But remember, this is temporary. After tonight, you will no longer need to hide.” Caroline didn’t answer. She slammed the heavy door shut, turned around, and started walking fast

Chapter 90 [ 491 words ] Chapter 90: Jarrod’s hand shot out. His long fingers clamped around her chin. He jerked her face up, forcing her to look directly into his furious eyes. “Does being Mrs. Romero embarrass you?” Jarrod hissed, his voice dropping to a dangerous, vibrating frequency. “Are

Chapter 89 [ 478 words ] Chapter 89: She glared at him. Her voice shook. “This is a massive violation of boundaries. You are harassing me.” Jarrod leaned back against the leather seat, crossing his arms over his broad chest. He looked completely relaxed and entirely unapologetic. “This is not

Chapter 88 [ 499 words ] Chapter 88: Caroline flinched. Her back slammed hard against the leather seat. Her eyes locked onto the distinct, curved bite mark he had just left in the bread. Jarrod didn’t pull his hand back. He pushed it one inch closer. “Eat it,” Jarrod commanded.

Chapter 87 [ 481 words ] Chapter 87: “Thank you, Cromwell,” Jarrod said, his voice a low, vibrating growl. “Hold your position. Do nothing. I’ll handle it.” He ended the call without another word. The heavy silence that followed was suffocating. Caroline’s jaw tightened. The knot of tension in her

Chapter 86 [ 498 words ] Chapter 86: “You’re using me as bait,” Caroline whispered, her operative instincts instantly analyzing the tactical nightmare of a massive public event. “I am using you as a shield,” Jarrod corrected softly, his thumb rubbing circles against her knee. “And I am showing the

Chapter 85 [ 494 words ] Chapter 85: A knot of nervous tension formed in her stomach. She grabbed her purse, locked the door, and walked down the stairs. She pushed open the lobby doors and stepped out into the bright morning light. She stopped dead in her tracks. Parked

Chapter 84 [ 490 words ] Chapter 84: Jarrod slowly opened his eyes. He looked down at her flushed, ruined face. A dark, incredibly satisfied smirk touched the corners of his mouth. He reached up and gently wiped a drop of moisture from the corner of her lip with his

Chapter 83 [ 512 words ] Chapter 83: “I don’t know how to do this,” she admitted, her voice cracking on the last word. “I don’t know how to be your wife. I don’t know how to be anything other than alone.” Jarrod’s expression shifted. The hard, demanding edge softened

Chapter 82 [ 489 words ] Chapter 82: The second kiss was slower, but infinitely more dangerous. It was a deep, consuming possession that stripped away the last of Caroline’s defenses. When Jarrod finally pulled his mouth away, Caroline slumped back against the door panel. Her entire body was trembling.