LOGINQuentin stopped caring about holding back. He closed the distance between them and swept Talia into his arms.He lifted her onto the dining table, his hands firm under her thighs, and pressed his mouth against hers without any of his usual gentleness. This time, he was urgent, almost rough.His hands tugged at her clothes without any regard for the way she pushed against him. Every other time before this, he'd asked her again and again if she was okay with it. But that night, he was past that.If he couldn't stop her from leaving with words, then this was the only way he knew to keep her. His kisses weren't really kisses anymore. He bit, grazed, and tasted her with a desperation that bordered on recklessness.Talia resisted. She pressed her hands flat against his chest to keep a distance between them. But he pulled her hands away, reaching for the buttons of her top while his lips trailed lower.She managed to get a few words out between breaths, her voice strained. "Quentin, don'
Talia and Quentin walked side by side toward the house, hand in hand, just like they had so many times before. Only this time there was no sweetness in it, because Talia knew that when she left the Henderson residence that night, they wouldn't be together anymore.Neither of them spoke as they made their way from the front gate to the main hall. The silence between them only deepened the grief hanging over the evening.The moment they were inside, Quentin turned and locked the front door behind them. Talia watched his smooth, deliberate movements without saying a single word.When he turned back around, his reddened eyes settled on hers. "Now we can talk."Talia forced a weak smile, her voice rough. "Quentin, why are you putting yourself through this?"He could tell that she wasn't playing around. Every trace of humor drained from his face, and his eyes filled with something raw and wounded. "All I know is that you're mine, Talia."Her breath caught in her throat. "Quentin, I'm n
Quentin refused to accept what Talia was saying. "Do you even hear yourself right now?""I know exactly what I'm saying," Talia told him flatly.He grabbed her hand and locked his fingers around hers so tightly that it was almost a vice grip, impossible to shake off. He stared at her for a long time before speaking. "Come back with me. Whatever this is, we'll sort it out at home."Talia tried to pull free. "Quentin, let go of me."He looked back at her and lowered his voice. "Sweetie, can we please not do this out here?"His tone was firm, but underneath it was nothing but worry and tenderness. The sound of it sent a sharp sting through Talia's chest.She hesitated for a few seconds, then gave in. "Fine."The moment she agreed, Quentin ushered her into the car. He didn't even stop to fasten her seatbelt before getting in himself, slamming the gas the second the engine turned over.Talia had no idea where they were going. She didn't say a single word the entire ride. She just tu
After Quentin finished speaking, the other end of the line went quiet for a long time before Talia's voice finally came through. Over the phone, she said, "Okay."It was barely a whisper, and even that single word carried a weight of emotion she couldn't hide.Quentin sensed something was amiss, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was. He stayed by the roadside, watching the complex entrance, and after about 20 minutes he finally saw Talia walking out.The moment she appeared, his face broke into a smile. He headed toward the gate to meet her, and when she stepped through, he fell into step beside her. "You were up there for a while. What did you two talk about?"Talia stopped in front of him and looked up, her gaze steady but unreadable. Something complicated stirred behind her eyes.When she didn't answer, Quentin's smile faltered. "What's wrong?"He searched her face and found nothing but sadness and hollow resignation. His heart dropped. He couldn't explain it, bu
The results spoke for themselves. No one else was a bone marrow match.It had never once crossed Talia's mind that Christian, of all people, would be the compatible one. The moment that realization hit, every ounce of dread and unease she'd carried all day instantly evaporated.Five years of marriage had given her a certain understanding of who he was. If he hadn't had something to hold over her, he never would have let her walk away from that parking garage at noon.She gripped her phone and stared blankly ahead for a long time. She wanted to cry, but no tears would come.Still, the chance to save Henry was right in front of her. She couldn't just let it slip away.So she typed a message to Christian. "What are you trying to say?"His reply came almost instantly. "Come to Elmwood Estate."Talia stared at those words on the screen, a deep, nameless ache settling in her chest. In the end, though, she made up her mind to go.Her first instinct had been to bring Quentin with her,
Quentin looked up toward the staircase. Talia's leg had mostly healed, but her hurried steps still made her gait slightly uneven.Since she was already coming down, he didn't go up. She looked so anxious, though, that he couldn't bring himself to question her. All he said was, "Let me drive you."Talia paused on the stairs for a moment, then composed herself and kept walking down as if nothing was wrong. She didn't speak until she was standing right in front of him, her eyes searching his. "Okay."She'd agreed so readily that most of Quentin's doubts faded. Besides, he'd be the one to take her there.That thought put him at ease enough to manage a small smile. "Alright, let's go."He reached for her hand, and she reached for his at the same time. Their fingers met and laced together in midair, and something warm spread through Quentin's chest. Whatever suspicion he'd been carrying vanished entirely.Willow was Talia's best friend. If she needed to see Talia, he had no reason to o
Christian held Yvonne. He lowered his head and nuzzled the top of her head, asking softly, "But didn't you always want Mommy with you when you were sick before?"Hearing this, Yvonne began sobbing quietly. The fever had left her too weak to make a fuss or struggle. She could only resist Christian's
It was exactly 8:28 am when Talia dropped Maeve off at kindergarten.It wasn't too late, but Maeve was so anxious that she immediately started running as soon as she entered the school grounds, worried about being late.Watching Maeve run, Talia couldn't help but smile gently. A few other girls we
As soon as Talia returned to her seat, Garrett's displeased gaze swept over her. He shot her a cold look and said, "Go stay with Maeve. If no one calls for you, don't come down."After he finished speaking, Talia shot Quentin another worried glance.Quentin met her eyes. He was in a panic, yet he
The moment Talia heard Christian's voice, she instinctively put her phone away. Her furtive manner made it obvious she was hiding something from him. Christian didn't say anything about it, though.Talia unbuckled her seatbelt and got out of the car. She didn't wait for Christian and started walkin







