The cold wind from the window seeped into the cracks of her heart as she forced a smile. "Alright, I understand."
So from the very beginning, he had always held her in contempt.
The door slammed shut with a violent crash. Staring at where she'd disappeared, Steve felt a sudden, fierce irritation rise in his chest.
Worried about Claire, he moved to follow her, but a nurse's scream cut through. "Miss Scott! What's wrong?"
Steve rushed over. "Irene!"
"Mr. Reed, I'm terrified... Am I dying?"
"You won't die. I swear it. As long as you get better, I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you."
Claire hadn't gone far. Every word reached her with crystal clarity. Once, she'd been his secretary too. When she'd drunk herself into stomach bleeding for him, he'd made the same vow.
Yet
