Chapter 223
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like a poor attempt at comfort.
Breathing.
Alive.
I gasped so hard it burned my lungs.
“Where is she?” The words ripped from my throat like claws. “Where the hell is she p>
Andrea’s smile widened but never reached her eyes.
“She’s fine for now p>
My stomach heaved. “For now p>
“That depends entirely on you p>
I took a step toward her-reflex, instinct, desperation.
She lifted the phone higher.
“Don’t,” she warned. “If you touch me, she bleeds p>
I froze.
My heart thrashed in my chest like it was trying to escape my ribcage.
“What do you want?” I choked out.
“Oh, so many things,” she murmured. “But one in particular. And you’re going to give it to me p>
“What? What do you want? Tell me. I’ll p>
“Not yet.” Her voice was a ribbon of ice. “You’ll know soon enough p>
My hands shook.
“Why?” I whispered. “Why my daughter? What does she have to do with you? With your family? Gerald—he hinted but he didn’t p>
“Gerald is an idiot,” she said simply. “And a distraction. He always has been p>
“What do you want from me p>
“I said,” she repeated slowly, “you’ll know soon enough p>
A pause.
A breath.
A terrifying calm.
“But until then,” she continued, “you will tell no one we met. Not your husband. Not Dorian. Not Connor. Not the police. No one p>
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My throat tightened painfully. “If I don’t p>
“Then I lose incentive to keep your daughter unharmed p>
I felt the world tilt.
The tiles blurred.
The lights buzzed.
“And Venus?” Her voice softened, almost affectionate. “You’re smart. Don’t make me hurt her p>
My breath shattered.
“Run along now,” she murmured. “He’ll get suspicious p>
She slipped past me.
Just walked out.
As if she hadn’t just destroyed the ground beneath my feet.
I stood frozen for one full second.
Then two.
Then-
“Aaron,” I whispered, though he couldn’t hear me.
I forced myself to move.
Forced myself to walk out of that restroom with my heart in pieces and a lie already forming in my throat.
Because Andrea Marlowe had my baby.
She had leverage. She had a plan.
And she wanted me.
Not Aaron.
Me.
And if telling anyone meant risking Iris-
Then I’d burn alone.
To keep my daughter safe.
But even as I stepped into the hallway, forcing my face still, forcing my voice calm, forcing my lungs to work-
My skin crawled.
Because Andrea hadn’t vanished.
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She wasn’t a ghost.
She was here.
In this city.
In this hospital.
Breathing my air.
Watching my family.
She was real.
She was dangerous.
And she wanted something from me.
Something big enough to steal a child for.
And as I met Aaron’s eyes at the end of the hallway-his relief, his worry, his love—
I knew one thing with sickening clarity.
I was going to have to lie to him.
For Iris.
For the first time since the day I married him-
I was going to keep a secret from him.
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Ruby Walker
Ruby Walker is a rising voice in the world of romance and spicy fiction. With a gift for weaving deep emotions, sizzling chemistry, and unexpected twists, her stories are a blend of passion and drama that captivate readers from start to finish. Ruby’s writing style is bold and irresistible—perfect for those who crave intense, addictive love stories.