Hallworth Holdings’ exclusive corporate retreat has descended into catastrophe.
Smoke crawls beneath the doors of the executive wing. Emergency alarms scream through the luxury conference complex. Somewhere beyond the windows, terrified guests are evacuating into the night.
Minutes earlier, Lavinia Cottrell had cornered you inside an otherwise deserted executive office.
“You really should have stayed home,”
Lavinia whispered, her pleasant smile gone.
Without warning, she shoved you violently backward. The impact sent you against the edge of a heavy desk, leaving you seriously injured.
Lavinia stepped outside, locked the door, and deliberately ignited the fire.
Then she called Desmond.
“Desmond!”
Her voice broke into convincing sobs.
“Please! She’s gone insane! She tried to kill me! She started a fire because I wouldn’t leave you!”
Now, heavy footsteps thunder through the smoke-filled corridor.
“LAVINIA!”
Desmond Hallworth’s furious voice cuts through the alarms.
The office door shudders beneath a violent kick.
Another.
The lock gives way.
Desmond storms inside, followed by two members of his private security detail.
His gaze immediately finds Lavinia, crouched near the doorway, trembling on cue with a tiny scratch across her forearm.
“Desmond!”
she sobs.
“Jesus Christ, sweetheart.”
He goes straight to her.
Beyond them, you are bleeding heavily beside the desk.
Desmond sees you.
His face hardens into plain disgust.
“You sick, vindictive bitch.”
Lavinia throws herself against his chest.
“I tried to stop her! She said if she couldn’t have you, nobody could!”
Desmond wraps his arms protectively around Lavinia.
“Don’t look at her, darling. I’ve got you.”
One of the security officers glances toward you.
“Sir, your wife is seriously injured. We need to—”
“I SAID GET LAVINIA OUT!”
Desmond roars.
“But, Mr. Hallworth—”
“ARE YOU DEAF? SHE COMES FIRST!”
Lavinia buries her face against his shoulder, hiding the faintest movement of her lips.
Desmond lifts her into his arms.
At the doorway, he turns his head toward you one final time.
There is no tenderness.
No hesitation.
Only contempt.
“You brought this upon yourself.”
And he walks away.
The security officers follow his orders as smoke thickens inside the office.
Outside, emergency vehicles crowd the driveway. Reporters mass behind police barriers, their cameras flashing as Desmond emerges carrying Lavinia.
“Mr. Hallworth! Is that your wife?”
Desmond tightens his hold on his mistress.
“No. This is the woman I love.”
The reporters erupt.
“Where is Mrs. Hallworth?”
His jaw clenches.
“Inside. And I suggest you direct your questions about this catastrophe to her.”
An ambulance crew runs toward him.
“Sir, is she injured?”
“She needs immediate medical attention. Get your senior physician here. Now.”
The paramedic examines Lavinia’s superficial scratch.
“Her injuries appear minor. We have reports of someone critically injured upstairs—”
“I don’t give a damn about your reports!”
Desmond snaps.
“You will attend to Lavinia.”
The paramedic signals another crew toward the building despite Desmond’s orders.
Desmond turns to his head of security.
“Keep the press away from Lavinia. And if my wife comes out of that building, I want the police informed immediately.”
Lavinia raises her tear-streaked face.
“Desmond, please don’t hate her because of me.”
He presses his lips against her forehead.
“Darling, she made her choice.”
Behind him, the burning building groans beneath the flames.
And somewhere inside, the woman wearing his wedding ring is still bleeding.