LOGIN**CHAPTER 021**"Mr. Cross, what... what is going on?" Thomas said as he struggled. "Who are these men? Mr. Cross—""I said take him away," Mr. Cross yelled.This was the first time I'd ever seen him raise his voice.Thomas struggled but both officers had him by the arms. He twisted between them, pulling, his composure finally and completely gone, the performance stripped away and whatever was underneath it spilling out loud and desperate."Mr. Cross — sir, please... please just listen to me, please—" His voice cracked on the last word, head turning back toward Michael even as the officers moved him toward the door. "I love her. I genuinely love her. Whatever you think happened in that room is not what it was. I would never hurt her, I swear to you I would never — she's been with me longer than you know—"Michael said nothing.Just stood there with his hands at his sides and that flat controlled expression and let Thomas talk."She means everything to me, sir, please—" Thomas's feet d
**CHAPTER 020**The ceiling of my bedroom.That was the first thing I recognized when my eyes opened. The same white ceiling I'd been staring at since I arrived in this house, the same soft curtains, the same evening light pressing through the gaps.I blinked slowly.Everything blurred with every twist of my head I made. My whole body felt like it had been wrung out and put back together slightly wrong."Don't try to sit up."*That voice. I... I recognize that voice.**Mr. Cross has OCD, a disorder that makes him difficult* — my mind flashed back to where I'd heard the voice.It was the doctor.I turned my head carefully and found her standing beside my bed, bag open on the drawer beside her, watching me with the expression of someone who has seen this kind of thing before and has very specific opinions about what comes next.*Well, she did warn me that staying with Michael Cross might be difficult,* I thought.Marie sat in the chair on my other side. Hands folded in her lap, eyes red
**CHAPTER 019**"What the hell is going on here?" Marie yelled as she stepped fully into the room. She pressed a hand over her mouth, eyes darting between me and him like she couldn't decide which one to look at. Dina crowded in behind her, one hand gripping the door frame, face pale.He climbed off me slowly. Unhurried. Like he had all the time in the world and none of this was a problem. He straightened up, adjusted the towel at his waist, and stood there with the particular calm of someone who had already decided how this was going to go.I scrambled off the bed the moment his weight lifted, putting the mattress between me and him, my legs shaking so badly I had to grip the bedpost to stay upright. My face was wet. I hadn't even realized I was crying until right now."Marie—" her name came out cracked and barely held together.She crossed the room immediately, hands finding my arms, steadying me. "I've got you," she said, low and urgent. "I've got you, it's okay—""It's really not
**CHAPTER 018**"Who the fuck are you!" I screamed as I thrashed under his grip.I used both hands to push against his chest, trying to get my mouth free, trying to get enough space to do something — scream, run, anything.But he was strong. His grip was tight and I found tears coming out from the sides of my eyes due to lack of breath."Stop fighting," he murmured, tightening his grip. "I'm not going to hurt you."*Not going to hurt me?* I drove my elbow back hard — he grunted — his hand slipped just enough and I sucked in half a breath before he covered my mouth again.The shower was still running behind us, steam filling the bathroom, everything hot and close and suffocating.*Think Rosa. THINK.*That's when it hit me.I went completely still. Just long enough that his grip loosened slightly."Thank goodness," he said, probably thinking I had passed out — and that's when I took the chance. I bit down on his palm as hard as I could."Argh!" he screamed, hand jerking back, and I seiz
**CHAPTER 017**I placed the album back on the desk carefully with both hands, making sure it was exactly where I'd found it.Then I turned to face him."Mr. Cross, I know how this looks, but I promise I wasn't trying to—""I don't want to hear it."He seemed so angry, but still he didn't yell."Please, just let me explain. The door was already open and I just walked in. I got curious and I know I shouldn't have touched your things, but—""Rosa."I stopped.He looked at me the way someone looks at something they've already made a decision about. Calm. Final. Like the conversation was already over and I just hadn't caught up yet."Leave my study.""But—""Now."I pressed my lips together hard, swallowed everything else I wanted to say, and walked towards the door. He stepped aside and I passed him without looking up, chin down, heart hammering, the embarrassment sitting hot and heavy on my face.When I finally came out, the hallway swallowed me up.I stood there for a second, back agai
*CHAPTER 016*I turned around and looked at him.He stood in the center of the room staring at me, eyes misty and a little red, jaw set, and the album was still in my hands. I was still in his study, and there was absolutely no version of this that looked good.What do I even say, I thought, my mouth opening and closing like a fish. What on earth do I even—“Mr. Cross, I… I can explain. The door was already open and I just—”But he wasn’t listening—he crossed the room and his hand closed around my wrist before the sentence finished leaving my mouth. The album slipped from my hand and hit the floor.“Mr. Cross, wha… Mr. Cross please, please it’s not what you think—” I pulled back, trying to slow him down, trying to make him stop and look at me and just listen for one second. “Please, I wasn’t trying to go through your things. I just saw the light and I got curious and—”“Shut the fuck up.” He turned and stared at me, and I could see the anger in those hazel eyes of his. “I don’t want t
**CHAPTER 006** "I..." The word died in my throat. I tried again. Opened my mouth. but nothing came out except a choked sound that was more sob than speech. How could I say it? How could I admit out loud that I had absolutely no one? That I was completely, utterly alone in this world? The doctor
**CHAPTER 005***Off course he wouldn't know I was pregnant I said to myself*I stared at him, though I couldn't really see. My eyes were still blurry, everything swimming in and out of focus like I was looking through water.I closed my eyes again, leaning my head back against the pillow as a tear
CHAPTER 015The hallway stretched out in front of me, long and filled with portraits of Mr. Perfect and what possibly looked like his ancestors.I stood there for a second, arms folded, wondering why I even left the room in the first place. Don't go anywhere — yeah, I remembered very well, but I wa
**CHAPTER 014***CASSIAN'S POV*Two days.She'd been back two days and I could already feel it coming. Like standing outside in the middle of summer and watching the sky turn that specific shade of gray that means the storm isn't a maybe anymore — it's a when.My mother didn't say anything. That wa







