Chapter 3

Richard turned away, pulled Claire close, and his gentle smile reappeared, as if the whole incident had never happened.

"Let's carry on. Don't let her spoil your night," he said.

Claire smiled and nodded, her eyes glinting with smug satisfaction.

No one noticed the final tear slipping from Evelyn's eye as she was carried away. It was despair, it was release, and it was her last, silent farewell of love to Richard.

Evelyn was dragged back to the villa and thrown into that cold, lifeless room.

There was no doctor, no medicine, just her, struggling alone at death's door.

When…