Behind the counter,the woman’s eyes turned even stranger,as if certain she was dealing with a“problem”woman.
Cornered.
Her parents were far abroad—she couldn’t bear to alarm them.
Friends?After marrying Adrian she had all but cut off her old social circle.
Despair rose like a tide,threatening to drown her.
A name surfaced in her mind.
Jonathan Hale.
The Hale and Winter families had been close for generations.Jonathan had been her childhood companion.
If she hadn’t been so determined to marry the self-made Adrian Cole,their families might have joined by marriage.
Even so,Jonathan had remained gracious,never making things difficult.
At her wedding he had sent a generous gift and said,“Clara,if you ever need help,the doors of the Hale family will always be open to you.”
At the time it had sounded like politeness.Now it was her only driftwood.
She borrowed the phone again,drew a deep breath,and dialed the long-neglected number.
After three or four rings,a low,warm male voice answered.“Who is this?”
“Jonathan…”
At that single word,all of Clara’s composure and forced strength shattered.Her voice broke into sobs.“It’s me…Clara…I…I need help…”
Clara could barely form words,unable to explain what had happened to her.She managed only to blurt out the address of the small motel.
On the other end of the line,Jonathan was silent for a few seconds before his steady,reassuring voice came through:
“Stay where you are.Lock the door.Don’t open it for anyone.I’m on my way.”
No questions.No hesitation.
After hanging up,Clara curled into a broken chair beside the motel reception desk.
Time dragged unbearably,every second an agony.
At last,a sleek black Rolls-Royce pulled up in front of the dingy motel,its presence almost absurd in the narrow street.
The driver in a black suit stepped out first,opening the rear door with respect.
Clara thought the driver had come for her—But then a tall,broad-shouldered figure emerged.
Jonathan was wearing a well-tailored charcoal gray suit and had obviously just attended an important event.
His handsome face was etched with worry and urgency.His sharp gaze swept the squalid surroundings before locking onto Clara,huddled in the corner.
His pupils contracted violently.
He strode forward in long,decisive steps and,without hesitation,shrugged off his expensive jacket,wrapping it gently around Clara’s near-bare frame.His touch was achingly careful.
“Clara.”