Chapter 2

It took Holly a moment to realize Vincent was talking to her.

She looked up and met his eyes. The familiar warmth was gone, replaced by cool indifference and a hint of amusement.

He was back to being the womanizing playboy she'd met two years ago, as though everything they'd been through together meant nothing.

Holly felt a sharp pang in her chest, but she forced a smile and walked over to Vincent and Tiffany.

Tiffany was already browsing the gowns.

While Tiffany wasn't looking, Vincent grabbed Holly's arm and leaned in close, speaking just loud enough for her to hear.

"If Tiffany finds out about us, you're finished in Velmora."

Holly nodded, keeping her smile in place. She walked over to Tiffany and gently talked her through the different gown styles and fabrics.

Her coworkers looked at her with pity, but Holly had grown numb to it.

Everyone thought Vincent had started pulling away from Holly because of Tiffany. But the truth was, he'd changed two months earlier.

After two years of being faithful, he'd gone back to spending his nights at clubs, fooling around with young models and minor celebrities.

Holly had grown used to him staying out all night and coming home the next morning smelling of alcohol and perfume. Tiffany was just the first woman he'd brought around her.

Tiffany was clearly out of her element. She wasn't used to the kind of personal attention customers received at a luxury boutique.

When Holly stepped behind her to tie the satin ribbons at the back of her gown, Tiffany quickly pulled away.

"No, no. I can do it myself."

But the slippery ribbons kept slipping through her fingers, and she couldn't get them tied no matter how many times she tried.

Vincent watched her struggle with the ribbons and chuckled. He stepped forward and tied them into a neat bow with practiced ease.

Then he leaned down and rested his chin on Tiffany's shoulder, his eyes full of affection.

"You look beautiful."

Tiffany blushed bright red, nervously twisting her fingers together.

Vincent smiled at her reaction, then turned his head and gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek.

Holly stood off to the side, struggling to keep her composure. Maybe Vincent really had gotten tired of her.

Love didn't always last, after all. She couldn't expect someone to adore her and put her first forever.

Vincent had once made her feel like she was his whole world. Now he'd tossed her aside, and it hurt more than she wanted to admit.

She dug her nails into her palms, fighting back tears. She was a detective, she reminded herself. Her job was to protect the city, not cry over a man.

None of them noticed a paparazzo secretly snapping photos nearby.

The next day, the photos appeared in a tabloid.

The headline read, "Murdoch Heir Spotted with New Flame, Leaves Holly Rosen Heartbroken."

Holly was at work when Vincent's mother, Sylvia Wallin, called.

"Holly, you have to come over! Vince's dad is going to beat him to death if you don't!"

Holly rushed to Murdoch Manor and found Vincent kneeling outside the front entrance. His shirt was torn from the whipping, and bloody welts covered his skin.

His father, Stanley Murdoch, stood nearby, breathing hard, a barbed whip in his hand.

"Cut things off with those trashy women and make things right with Holly, or I'll beat you to death myself!"

Sylvia was in tears as she pleaded with Vincent.

"Vince, Holly was pregnant with your baby. And after what you... what you put her through, everyone in Velmora knows you're together! You can't just throw her away like this."

But Vincent wouldn't back down. "Then go ahead and kill me. Nothing's going to keep me away from Tiffany, not even death."

Holly stared at his back, his posture rigid and defiant.

A year ago, he'd stood up to Stanley the same way for her.

He'd even gone three days without eating before jumping from the second floor to escape. He'd hurt his leg in the fall, but he'd still limped all the way to see her.

Back then, seeing him battered and bruised, all she'd wanted was to finish her assignment and tell him the truth so they could finally be together.

Now he was standing up to his father again, only this time, he was doing it for Tiffany.

Holly felt something inside her go cold.

Vincent didn't have to die for Tiffany. Her assignment would be over in less than a month, and once it was, she'd be out of his life for good.

Then he and Tiffany could spend the rest of their lives together.