Before she couldnd a p across his face, his hand shot out, gripping her wrist in a vice.


    In the dim light, Haynes'' handsome features flickered in and out of shadow.


    "You''ve hit me enough times, Ste. That''s enough."


    His grasp on her wrist was unyielding there was no chance of escape.


    Ste lifted her eyes, staring at Haynes with a hatred and disgust she''d never felt so sharply before.


    "You stole what was mine and handed it to Rachel behind my back, didn''t you?"


    She didn''t wait for him to answer. "If I''m not mistaken, you not only turned down Mr. Walden''s offer for me, but you brought Rachel to meet him instead, didn''t you? Let me guess you also told Mr. Walden that I''m just a housewife, barely educated, that I''ve spent years running the O''Brien household, and it''d be a waste to give me that opportunity. Much better to hand it over to Rachel, right? She''s so hardworking, so resilient-battling a terminal illness and never giving up. Giving me that chance would just be throwing it away, wouldn''t it?"


    Her voice was questioning, but her expression was utterly certain.


    What was left to doubt?


    Her wedding had been like this. Her ne, the same. And now, even the opportunity that should have been hers had been stripped away.


    Looking him straight in the eye, Ste spoke, each word cutting and clear. "Haynes, why is it that anything of mine-you always give it to Rachel, without a second thought? Did I murder her entire family, desecrate her ancestors'' graves, or maybe I owed her in a past life? What gives you the right to decide for me?"


    Haynes was silent for a long moment. When he finally spoke, his voice was low and hoarse, swallowed by the darkness.


    "Rachel''s illness might never be cured. She needs this chance more than you do." Her free handshed out, pping him across the face.


    She was shaking with rage, and her fingers trembled so much that the blow barely stung, but it didn''t matter. It was all she had left.


    "What''s next?" Steughed bitterly, her eyes never leaving his. "You want me to hand over my studio? do I


    My violin? Let''s see, what y


    have left that you can gift to her?"


    She paused, her voice turning icy. "Oh, I know the only thing left is my life. After all, she''s dying, and I''m perfectly healthy. So why not hurry up and kill me while I''m not looking, take my life for her too? That way, if your precious Rachel''s condition gets worse, you can always me me for cursing her, right?"


    Moonlight caught in her eyes, glimmering with unshed tears.


    She hadn''t cried in a long time. Ever since she''d decided to divorce Haynes,


    she''d promised herself never to shed another tear for this man.


    But now, as he once again took something that should have been hers, she couldn''t hold it in anymore.


    Haynes looked at her, his deep eyes faltering as he saw the tears brimming in hers.


    He reached out, almost without thinking, to wipe a tear from the corner of her eye.


    Ste turned her head away, avoiding his touch.


    She squeezed her eyes shut, refusing to let a single tear fall.


    Then she drew several long, shuddering breaths, trying to steady herself.


    When she opened her eyes again, the tears were gone, her gaze as clear and cold as ever.


    She''d lost control-just for a moment. But why be angry? She knew exactly what kind of man he was. What was the point?


    But when she found out what he''d done, her fury had overwhelmed every ounce of reason.


    She''d fought so hard for that single chance, clinging on with everything she had- only for him to toss it away and hand it to Rachel like a favor.


    She could still see, as in as day, the smug, challenging look Rachel had given her before leaving.


    Ste''s


    "Haynes, if there was a knife in front


    of me right now, I wouldn''t hesitate


    e it straight into your t


    it