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CHAPTER ONE

E the city lights of Manhattan with tear-soaked eyes In a blur, the look on Gavin’s face as he walked away froh her , and the further away she got froh her sanity and heart were hanging by a delicate thread She shifted restlessly and her gaze fell on the glowing green light of the digital clock It was nearly one o’clock in the limmer of hope flooded her body, and she squeezed her eyes shut, praying Gavin would take her back As the taxi pulled up in front of his high-rise, she reached in her purse and pulled out a wad of cash After handing the unknown a open the door and stepped onto the sidewalk

"Hey!" the Middle Eastern driver called "You have to close the door, lady!"

E feet pushed her forward, kept hertohat she hoped would be a new start A new future with the man she knew she couldn’t live without She pulled open the door and crossed the lobby Sweat clung like decay across her flesh With a tre hand, she pressed the button for the elevator Her nerves skyrocketed with love and anxiety Once the elevator doors opened, she stepped inside and leaned against the wall, physically and , tears steadily fell Unsure of Gavin’s reaction, Eled to pull in a decent breath

She tried to tah her The doors opened to ould either be a new beginning… or an end Feet glued to the ground, she stood frozen for a uely aware of the elevator doors gliding closed, she became dizzy as she lifted her hand to hold it open Slowly, she stepped out Her vision tunneled as she turned toward Gavin’s penthouse, and her mind spun out of control with every possible scenario She strained to focus on his words fro her fear to wane as her feet led her closer Her pace quickened with every step

Once she reached his unit, her fears returned with a vengeance, anchoring heavy in her chest With trepidation, she knocked on his door, each knockof her heart She wiped away tears as her body trembled from head to toe The ain, harder

"Please answer" She chanted the silent prayer while ringing his doorbell

With tears trickling down her cheeks, she stared at the peephole, envisioning hi and cut a path through her heart

"Please," she cried, ringing the doorbell again "God, Gavin, please I love you I’, she reached in her purse and pulled out her cell phone She dialed Gavin’s nu over and over again

"You’ve reached Gavin Blake You knohat to do"

Ehtened, and dropped into the pit in her stomach when she heard his voice That sweet voice would forever haunt her if he didn’t take her back That sweet, pleading voice that had begged her to believe hiain, and listened oncewould be the only e he would receive

Words… she had none