William Locke had returned from the hospital not as the stoic man with a will of iron that Gail knew, but as a man mellowed down by painkillers and the quiet indignity of needing others to help him walk steadily.

The driver handed the hospital bag to Evelyn who carried it inside, while Freya assisted her brother.

Gail watched. At first.

She watched the larger-than-life CEO reduced to mere flesh. Even though he appeared to be heavily drugged to keep away the pain, a faint grimace pulled at ...