ManyWriters

I sold my body to my husband, Cade Sterling.
One hundred thousand dollars. That was his price for a night with me. The only thing keeping our son, Leo, alive.
My stepmother whispered lies in his ear, and he believed them. He forced another woman into our bed while I was forced onto an operating table.
"You're pregnant," the nurse said, her voice a sterile blade. "Mr. Sterling has requested a termination."
Then, I was forced to watch my son Leo, my only reason for living, leap from a cliff to save me from further torment.
He was gone.
My husband had murdered our first child, and now our second. There was nothing left to live for.
In the cold, scarlet water of the bathtub, I finally let go.
But as darkness claimed me, I didn't know the truth was a far more cruel and twisted thing than I could have ever imagined.
And that Cade Sterling, my tormentor, was about to pay a price far greater than money could ever cover.

His Ruinous Price

Cade’s gaze was impossibly gentle, a look that made Aria’s tears fall even faster.


His eyes were filled with the same pampering love she remembered from when they first met. “I’m so sorry, Aria. I truly regret all the terrible things I did to you, and that I broke your heart.”


“Aria, I don’t deserve your forgiveness, so don’t forgive me, just please, take good care of yourself.”


“No matter what happens, you have to promise me you’ll take care of yourself, Aria.”


I love you, but I don’t want to cause you any more pain, so I won’t say it.


After saying everything he needed to say, Cade calmly turned to Julian. “Just take my life. Don’t hurt Aria.”


Cade took a step forward, standing directly in front of Julian, making no attempt to defend himself as he waited for the inevitable shot.


As Julian witnessed Cade’s fearless surrender, he knew, with a crushing certainty, that he had already been defeated.


Chapter 46