Forget it. It was no worse than getting bit by a dog. I shook my head hard and willed myself to think of other things.I still needed to get a job with Silas' team. I hoped that Pete wouldn't forget this promise and render all my efforts last night in vain.I couldn't bring myself to call Pete, so I
"I didn't say that," I said. "You have legs. You can go anywhere you want. I don't live here, anyway. I hadn't meant to come back here last night."To be honest, it wasn't hard to deal with Claudia. She had to keep up the pretense of being sweet and lovely, so thoughtfulness was one of her most impo
As if on cue, my heart began pounding."I didn't say anything to her," I retorted."Shut up. Just go to her college. If Claudia is hurt, you will pay for everything you've done!"Nicholas' cold voice was even more distressing than the sound of the call hanging up.I looked up at Pete and Silas. I kn
"I started it. For no other reason than the fact that she looks like she deserves a good punch in the face," Claudia said suddenly. "If I see you again, I'll punch you."Things descended into chaos just like that.When Nicholas arrived, the first thing he did was to grab Claudia, whom I was shieldin
I thought that Pete would laugh at my disheveled state. I thought that he would clap and ridicule me. It was what he'd done for more than 20 years, and he was good at it.I hadn't expected him to show such concern.However, I did not need concern or revenge at this time. All I wanted was some peace
"Do I look like I need you to pay for my meals?" Pete scoffed. "Plenty of women would kill to take me out for dinner!"After accompanying me to the hospital, Pete dropped me home. "You can take the next few days off. We don't need your ugly face in the firm.""Sure thing."I did not talk back this t
"What a miser you are, Mr. Hawk. How much did that ointment cost? 20 bucks?" I pursed my lips and looked Nicholas in the eye as I spoke. I was angry. I was angry that he treated Claudia so well, yet tried to humiliate me with some medicine that barely cost anything.Shrouded in the shadows, Nichola
"Malicious intent?" Nicholas echoed. After a moment of consideration, he asked, "Who was responsible?""Mr. Hawk, it was Mr. Shelman. He mentioned he had a close call today and wanted to see how difficult driving really is. Unfortunately, he lost control of the steering…" Beth's voice tapered off.
"Christopher?" I gasped.I had planned to slip away quietly, but Christopher's desperate cries were so loud they drew a crowd. It was then I realized Coral Villa looked the same as before, yet it had changed in so many ways. Otherwise, where did all these people come from?A guard in black kicked C
Nicholas needed some time alone, and my mood did not ease from the heavy pain as I pushed open the door.Just a door between us, and we were each steeped in our own pain."Ah! Ah!"The sound of a little voice pulled me from my thoughts. I practiced my smile twice before I leaned over the railing. "
Nicholas lifted his gaze, shock and wonder filling his eyes."Tabitha… She really is my child. My child… Tabitha… Tabitha Hawk…"Suddenly, I was enveloped in a powerful embrace, his body trembling against mine. His heart thudded in rhythm with his shaking voice."My child… I really have a child…"I
"Alright. Let's eat first," Nicholas said.Considering my condition, Nicholas gestured for the maid to bring the meal in. In truth, he was nearly certain that Tabitha was his daughter. Her eyes mirrored his own, far more so than Pete's could ever. Back at the airport, when Nicholas was rushing back
Nicholas wasn't done yet. He kept adding more details. "This morning when I was trying to sleep, she wouldn't stop yelling. The whole house was trying to calm her down, and no one could. I got fed up and shoved her out the door. She has probably really been picked up by the garbage truck by now.""
The doctor smiled kindly as if he didn't notice anything."Mrs. Hawk, your head may still feel a little dizzy today, but it's nothing to worry about. After a light meal to regain some strength, you should take a walk and get some fresh air. You'll be feeling fully recovered soon."As he spoke, he st
But when someone genuinely cared about me, and that happened to be Nicholas, I didn't feel like crying as much anymore. I wasn't Claudia, and I wasn't good at showing weakness in front of him.I wiped away my tears and pulled up a chair to sit across from the bed. I took in everything I once knew so
When Nicholas reached out to embrace me, the touch of his skin felt almost magical, as if it peeled away my soul from my body. My spirit floated above, watching the two people who should never have intersected, now tightly wrapped in each other's arms.To make me more comfortable, Nicholas adjusted
My body felt like a boneless rag doll as Nicholas turned me over in his arms, inspecting me thoroughly. Then, as if I were trash, he dropped me beside him without a second thought.He let out a heavy sigh, pressing his trembling hand against his brow. He shot me a sidelong glance, muttering under hi