marry . The wedding will happen . The date stays secret . " Chaos . Reporters roared , cameras exploded in white light , voices blurred into a storm . I looked up at him , stunned , and my chest ached . He shielded me so easily , so fiercely , like it was nothing . My lips curled into a smile I couldn't hold back . And yet inside , my thoughts twisted . Beckley's obsession still haunted me . But now I wasn't sure what scared me more ... that Beckley wouldn't let me go , or that Kendrick's hold on me was already too strong . Because when his arm tightened , I felt safe . Safer than I'd ever admit . BECKLEY'S POV I sat in my suite , the damn skyline staring back at me like it owned me . My hand was still bleeding from the glass I'd shattered . The TV kept replaying it , over and over like a taunt . Helena announcing . Claire stepping forward . Kendrick with his smug arm wrapped around her waist , calling her his fiancée like he earned that right . My wife . My everything . " She was mine , " I muttered , my voice shaking , my laugh bitter and dry . " She was mine before she was anyone's . How dare he touch her . How dare he parade her like she belongs to him . " The memories clawed me raw . Claire laughing in my arms . Claire crying , begging me not to leave her cold . Claire the night she walked away , those eyes cutting me open like knives . I poured another drink , downed it , poured again . My men had orders . Dig up Savatier . Break him . Burn his empire to the ground until there's nothing left but ash and his name in obituaries . Then the door slammed . Fresca . Hair a mess , mascara streaked down her face , her voice already shrill like an alarm . She didn't walk - she collapsed , knees smacking the marble floor as though pain might buy her mercy . " Beckley , please , " she rasped , reaching for me . " Don't do this . Don't throw me away . She cheated on you before , remember ? She's a liar , a snake . I'm the one who stayed . I gave you a son . Bennett is ours - our family . Don't ruin us because she crawled back Chapter 23 2/2 81.0 % 9:13 Thu , Oct 16 alive and healthy . " 96 I started laughing . Real ugly . The kind of laugh that makes your ribs ache and your blood taste like iron . I pressed a hand to my forehead , shaking my head like she'd just told me the funniest damn joke . " Son ? " I echoed , grinning sharp enough to cut . " You dare say that word to me ? " She froze , lips trembling , eyes wide and glassy . I waved my right hand forward . My man stepped out of the shadows , silent , and put the envelope in my palm. The one I'd been saving for the moment she'd push me too far . I shoved it in her face . " You see this , Fresca ? DNA test . I did it days ago . Secret . You think I wouldn't check ? " Her hands trembled as she opened it , the paper rattling like dry leaves . She went pale before she'd even read a word . " Read it out loud , " I said , voice low , dangerous , a storm held inside my chest . " Go on . Tell me what it says . " She shook her head , whispering , " No. No , it's not true . You're lying . You're twisting everything . " I snapped . In two strides I had her by the hair , yanking her head back so hard she gasped , then slammed her against the wall . Her skull thudded against the paneling , a dull sound swallowed by her whimper . My grip slid from her hair to her throat while my fingers digging in . " Does that paper look like he's my son? " I hissed , nose to nose . " Answer me , Fresca . Look me in the eye and tell me Bennett's mine ! " She clawed at my wrist , choking . " He's your son , Beckley - he is - he has to be - I swear I squeezed harder , my voice breaking into a roar . " Stop lying to me ! Do you know what you are ? A leech . A fraud . A stain I let into my life . You used me . You trapped me with a bastard child and thought I'd never find out . " Her tears smeared down her cheeks , pathetic sobs spilling like broken glass . " Please . Please don't do this . Don't leave me . I'll do anything . I'll disappear . I'll get on my knees . I'll crawl . Just don't- " I shoved her down , hard . She landed on the floor in a heap , palms scraping against the marble . She stayed there , crawling , grabbing at my ankle like a drowning woman . " I loved you , " she sobbed . " I gave you everything . I built this life with you . I gave you a son . Don't throw me away . Please , Beckley , I'll be good . I'll be quiet . Don't ruin me . " Chapter 23 213 81.0 % 9:14 Thu , Oct 16 96 I kicked her hand off , not even looking at her . " The lawyer is on his way. You're signing those papers . You're nothing to me . You've always been nothing ." She pressed her forehead to the floor , shaking , words tumbling out like prayers . " Please . Please . Please . Don't throw me out . I'll do anything . I'll cut off everyone . I'll disappear . Just don't hate me . " I poured another drink with bloody hands , the burn down my throat steadying me . " Claire is the only one that matters , " I said , voice flat now , dead . " Claire is mine . And you ... " I turned back , staring at Fresca curled up on the floor like a rag doll , mascara streaking down her face . " You're finished . Do you hear me ? Finished ." CLAIRE'S POV The lights were hot on my skin , cameras clicking nonstop , stylists tugging at my hair and dressed like I was their living doll . I kept my chin up , even when my stomach twisted . Two weeks of this circus . Two weeks of my face plastered on every headline , every gossip feed . Some called me strong , some pitied me , some spit venom , and too many whispered about how I stole Kendrick when the truth was ... he wasn't even mine . Not really . Not yet . I was just starting to breathe when the air in the studio snapped cold . The door slammed , assistants gasped , and then I saw him . Beckley . He looked wrecked . Bloodshot eyes , suit wrinkled , like he hadn't slept in days . His energy was wild , manic , dangerous . Before anyone could react , he cut through the crowd and grabbed my arm so hard I thought bone would snap . " You're coming with me . Now , " he hissed in my face . Something inside me snapped . The same girl who used to tremble at his voice was dead . I ripped my arm out of his grip and slapped him , hard , right across the face . The crack echoed through the whole damn studio . SLAP ! 212 82 19 9:14 Thu , Oct 16 96