ekat lain. Tin done with breakfast. Shall wegped"

Austynlaid to have noticed Kira's hostility towards her, starting with

She albida't preci do say anything;, she just needed to play the part of the

The nodded. 'Tet's go!

Deborali forked down and had a smile,

Kina caught the smalle and was livid.

Star was about to say something snarky, but Austynload already moved towards the door.

Kira put up and followed them

Hina, still peeved, followed the two to

to the carjack

Austyn and Deborah walked on alirad, chang

Kira caught a smile on his lips several i

Sher lowered her head and mistered anure,

She pulled open the rear left door of the Hummer

Kira Inoked up and saw Austyn frowning at lier.

"Getting in the car,' she said. "We're leaving, rigla??

Austyn pulled open the front passenger side door. "Get in."

Kirastood her jruul 'No, Miss Connelly can take that seat. I like it back here There's more space."

Deborah's eyes lit up. "If you insist

"Didn't you hear me? Austyn all in a voice that brooked no argument. 'Get in."

The smile on Deborali's lace froze.

She stood next to the car, Inoking awkward.

Kinaduln't want to play the role of the submissive wife anymore.

I want to

s take a nap in the backseat," She crossed her arms, defiant.

She turned to Deborah MissConnelly, would you mind trading seats with met

'Not at all,† Deborah said. 'P'en happy to do it.'

"Thank you"

Kira was halfway into the car whenshe felt herself being dragged backwards by the scruff of her tierk.

Austynäpamped! er protest and bundled her unceremantly to the front passenger seat

Kita buistled at kiubossy ways

Whyenuldn't she post sit fenther Track?

Austyn was being conti

He got in the driver's seat. ""Deborah, take the backseat.!

It wasn't really a suggestion

Austin Love

Deborah dew in a deep breath 'Okay'

She got in on the side behind Kica

'Scoot over," Austyn said.

Deborah, confused, did as she was told.

She moved over so she was now sitting behind Austyn,

He passed a button on the electronic dashboard.

Kira's seat started moving lower with a hum

"What are you doing?" she was startled

"You said you wanted to take a nap, Austyn said. 'Now you can."

The leather seat reclined as flat as a bed.

Kira lay on it, staring up at the celling

Deborah turned away.

Kira cooled her heels in the hallway outside Unit 18-20.

The apartment used to be Kayleigh's address, but now another woman lived in in

Both women had a connection with Austyn.

Kira stuckout her lower lip, pouting.

So this was like Austyn's love nest.

The apartment door was open.

Austyn was standing in the living room, ralding to Deborah.

Kira watched the woman from some distance away.

There wasn't much colour on Deborah's face.

Her willowy figure looked frail, like she could be knocked over with a single push.

If she hadn't overheard the call, Kira wouldn't have believed that this beautiful, fragile-looking woman had a hidden agenda

She thought Deborah had returned to Stamford to get back together with Austyn.

But the snippets of conversation she beard in the cubicle gave her a bad feeling

She couldn't catch everything, but she did hear Austyn's name being mentioned, and something like 'trouble' and 'trust.'

That was why she grilled Deborah after she came back into the room, hoping the woman might let something slip.

But Deborah gave away nothing.

Kira studied Austyn's side protile

He was smart, maybe ten times smarter than her.

But Deborah was someone from his past, someone he used to love.

He must be thrilled to discover she was still alive.

It wouldn't cross his mind to question why

He had no reason to suspect Deborah, the woman who gave her life for his mother.

Kira had wanted to tell him about the call, to give him a heads-up,

But what was she going to say?Exclusive content from .

could she expect Austyn to start doubting Deborah based on two overheard words?

Kira telt a headache coming on.

What was she supposed to do?

Deborah noticed the troubled lookon Kira's lace.

She pointed at the hallway. 'Is it a good idea to leave her out there?"

Austyn didn't turn his head. "Let her be. If she comes in, she won't have anything nice to say anyway."

Deborah pursed her lips. I don't think Miss Hewitt meant to pick on me."

So you noticed it, too. She's been acting rather hostile towards you."

'I can't really blame her. Deborah nodded with a smile. "After all, you and It's only natural for her to feel unconfortable."

Anstyn studied her face. The way she treated you in the restaurant-are you oftended?"

"Of course not she's so young, harely a grown-up. I can't get mad at a glul half a decade younger than me."Deborah knew Austyn didn't like pettiness in a wantai. Austin Love Mest

between you

She added, "You shouldn't blame her, either. She's still in her early twenties, not wise to the ways of the world yet. She won't understand this thing t and me.! Austyn nodded.

His reaction pleased Deborah.

Austyn was siding with her

Kira might be his wife, but the girl would never understand Austyn the way she did. Debocali reached for his hand. 'Austyn....

Act First Fisa Bonus Time is Running Out!

Claim

His Word Is His Bond

Austyn shifted his body. "If she offended you, I apologise on her behalf

Deborah's hand hang mid air.

"You're right," he said: "She's young and a bit of a botbead. She speaks her mind without thinking it though. gurus l'in partially responsible. She acts like this a home and I never correct her. So, if what she said back at the restaurant offended you, Dwinild like to apologise on bei beball

His woods had the force of a slap

Deborah, stung by the attention in his voice, shat back 'She's her own person. You shouldn't apologise when she's the one who did something wrong!"

Austyn looked at her evenly. She's my wife. We are a team. Her business is my business."

Deborah refused to acknowledge what he said.

She bit het lower lip. I was supposed to be your wite! Why did you many her in the first place? Do you love her?"

Austyn didn't answer the question. "There's something I've been meaning to ashy

"What?

"How did you get back to Stamford? He scrutinised her face. How did you happen to appear right in front of me outside the hospital?" Deborah swayed on her feet.

She stared up at him in disbelief. Ar you doubting me? Or accusing me of something?"

was unmoved. "I would like to know the answer.

AusEVIL WAR

had to take on odd jolis

Deborah's eyes turned red. "Finet escaped from the house two months ago, but I couldn't come back right away because I had no money. I had i and dodge your father's men at the same time."

She let her tears fall. "When I finally had enough money for a plane ticket, I realised I didn't know where you were couldn't show up at Cedarwood Mansion. Your father must still be living there. So I decided to go look for Jesse. At least the hospital would still be there. I didn't get to see him, but I saw Luca. Hollowed him Then I saw you. There, that's the answer! Happy now?

She was breathing rapidly.

Austyn heard her wheezing. "Are you having another asthma attack? Where's your inhaler?"

She pushed his hand away, 'I'm fine"

"Then you're angry? Austyn withdrew his hand. "I can apologise."

'I'm not.."Deborah paused.

She waited for her breathing to return to nonnal,

"I'm not angry at you,' she said. "I'm angry at myself. If only I'd come back earlier, you wouldn't have married someone else, and we could still have a chance." Stue reached for his hand again. Austyn stepped backwards

She froze

*You should get some rest. He turned towards the door. 'I need to go now."

Deborah didn't want him to leave. 'Austyn!!

He looked at her.

There were tears in her eyes.

She held his hand

A loud bang drew their attention.

Austyn tumed his head.

Kia stood in the open doorway

The door tud been ajar

A hard shove from her slatemed it against the wall.

She was gnashung berteeth. "Was Lintruding/Dops, My bad! Please, catty on!"

Austyn's band flew to his forehead

That tone, that look...

He recognised the signs of an imminent bassy in

Austyn rode towards the door.

Kirahad run off

Austyn closed the dong after him, leaving Deborah alone in the living room

Kiracınsed Austyn with the most vicious words she karw

She kicked her legs as she wallied and punched the att

He didn't even bother hiding it from her

She was in the hallway, less thantive inchies away, while he was thating with his old Hage in the living comm

When she banged the door open, she save the Luling, Jose together.

Debetalt was holding his fund and made as if she was absent to kiss

If she hadn't so rudely banged in, would they be getting naked tight in the middle of the living room in bossat alaylight?

kirawanted to scream and pauscht things.

At the top at the list would be the two-timur'solinusions tarel

She took it out on the wildflowers along the way as she stoned out of the apartment block.

Austyn followed the tail of dismembered petals and caught up with her.

He planted himself in her path. The flowers are the property of the condo, you know. What you or doing is an act of vandalism?

"Here to lecture me again? Kira shoved hand at his chest. "Get losal

what did you say

sad, get lost! Seram! Shoo! Don't you understand English?' she was yelling, now.

A vein in Austyn's torche ad stated throbbing. "What's wrong with you? What are you getting so mad about? You say it for yourself. There was nothing between me

and Deborah'

"You were holding hands with her Kira stabbed a finger at his chest. "That was nothing? Then what counts as something? Sex?

Austyn caught her waist. "We weren't holding hands. She was grabbing my hand, I didn't let her,"

"That's only because I came in I didn't, I bet your hands would be all over her!!

Austen sighed, exasperated "Are you changing me with a crime I didn't commit? If you want to start posting fingers, what about you? "What about me whith

"What about all the time you spent with Gideon? You went with his to a restaurant in the middle of the night. If I hadn't gotten there in time, he would have

You

kira was stumped for a momen

But she wasn't about to harkdowns From this tight,

She had given in enough times in the past.

• kissed

'cadeon's like a brother time. Tolly't have let him kiss

me even it you didn't come can take an oaths and swear I lar

langer have Trelings for him."

She crossed heraus. "What about you? Do you late make the same sathi about Delusialt"

I don't believe in swaths, My word is my bond

Ta! Kapouted a liget you' chegou 1 kaew it. I law your sill have feelings for her!