Chapter 2

Kate cut in with a soft laugh. "Ms. Zimmer, your parents have been married for years. You want Luke to split them up? He'd be a laughingstock.

"I've never met anyone who wanted their own parents to divorce."

Luke reassured her gently. "She's sick. She doesn't know what she's saying."

The photos of Elaine broke Zoe's heart, but she couldn't bring herself to explain.

As Luke turned toward the car, she grabbed his sleeve. "Luke, you promised! You said you'd help me get my mom away from the Zimmers!"

On their wedding day, Luke had told her he was only marrying her for Kate's transfusions.

In return for three years of blood donations, he'd promised she could take Elaine and leave.

So she'd hidden her love for him and given blood whenever Kate needed it, waiting out those three years.

They hadn't planned to sleep together. Afterward, Luke had moved her things into the master bedroom.

He'd wanted her every night. After each business trip, he'd pull her into bed and keep her there until she could barely stand.

She'd thought he would help her.

Luke looked at her and chuckled. "Why don't I remember promising that?"

Zoe froze. "Our wedding night, three years ago. You said if I gave blood to Ms. Sinclair for three years, you'd help me get my mom away from the Zimmers!"

Her face lit with hope. Everyone in Borevia City knew Luke Whitmore kept his word.

Three years were up. She could finally save her mother.

Luke brushed her hand away and got into the car with a cold, mocking smile. "It was just something I said. I forgot about it."

Zoe fell to the ground, watching helplessly as the Rolls-Royce sped away.

She'd given Kate blood ninety-nine times in three years. That promise had kept her going. She'd never complained.

She'd shared his bed all that time. He'd demanded she give herself to him completely, never letting her pull away. He'd told her over and over that she belonged to him alone.

She'd never imagined his promise meant so little.

Zoe returned to her room in a daze and stepped into a cold shower. The water couldn't ease her despair.

The woman in the mirror was stunning, but she'd sunk so low she disgusted herself.

She looked down, her eyes stinging with tears.

'I'm such a joke.'

After her shower, Zoe picked up her phone and called.

"You were right. Luke won't help me. I'm in. Help me save my mom, and I'll help you find evidence of Richard Zimmer's crimes!"

***

A week later, Zoe got dressed and joined Luke in the car for a banquet.

Kate was there too.

Under a huge crystal chandelier, Kate wore a flowing white dress, surrounded by friends from Luke's circle.

Across the crowded ballroom, Zoe spotted Elaine beside a stranger.

In just a week, Elaine had grown painfully thin. Her dress hung loose.

Her once-gentle eyes were dull. She kept her head down, afraid to look at anyone.

Zoe's eyes stung with tears. Before she could approach, Luke grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward the entrance.

"Don't cause a scene. That's Kate's uncle."