He Begged After I Was Gone

Five years ago, my family went bankrupt. It was Julian Thorne who cleared our massive, crushing debts.

I asked him how I could ever repay him.

He looked at my face, a deep, lonely longing flickering in his eyes.

"You don't have to do anything," he murmured. "Just stay by my side."

From that day on, I became a strange presence in his life.

I wasn't his maid, yet I managed every detail of his life. I memorized all his allergies and dietary restrictions, and I tied his silk ties every single morning.

I wasn't his girlfriend, yet we lived together, and we shared a bed.