Shattered Rings And Her Priceless Hidden Identity

Evelyn's bare feet slapped against the wet pavement as she sprinted out of the heavy oak doors of the estate.

The Long Island rain was coming down in sheets, instantly soaking through the thin fabric of her silk nightgown, plastering it to her skin.

The freezing water mixed with the sharp gravel of the driveway, cutting into the tender soles of her feet with every step, but the physical agony was nothing compared to the bleeding wound in her chest.

Ahead of her, Carter's silver Aston Martin was creeping down the long driveway, heading for the main gates.

Adrenaline flooded Evelyn's system. She threw her arms out wide and stepped directly into the path of the headlights.

The blinding xenon beams illuminated her pale, soaking wet face. Her expression was completely devoid of fear.

The tires locked up. The car skidded violently on the slick asphalt, the bumper stopping mere inches from her kneecaps.

The driver's side window rolled down. Carter sat behind the wheel, his face a terrifying mask of dark fury.

He raised his voice over the storm, ordering her to get out of the way and go back inside before she killed herself.

Evelyn wiped the heavy rain from her eyes. She stared straight through the open window, locking onto his gaze.

She screamed at the top of her lungs, demanding that he choose between her and Brianna right now, in this exact moment.

Carter's knuckles turned white as he gripped the leather steering wheel. He physically turned his head, refusing to look at her.

His voice was hard as stone when he yelled back that Brianna was in danger and he had to go.

The words "had to go" acted like a blade, cleanly severing the very last thread of hope Evelyn had been holding onto.

She suddenly threw her head back and laughed. The sound was wild, broken, and completely unhinged in the middle of the storm.

She pointed a shaking finger at his face and screamed that she didn't care if he left, because she didn't care about him at all.

To protect the last shredded piece of her dignity, she opened her mouth and spun a massive, fatal lie.

She screamed that she had been deeply in love with someone else for the last ten years-her true white moonlight.

She told him she only married him for the Finley money, and now that she had enough, she couldn't wait to run back to the man she actually wanted.

The words hit Carter like a physical blow to the chest.

His breathing stopped entirely. A violent, chaotic storm of jealousy and betrayal exploded in his dark blue eyes.

He shoved the car door open, stepping half out into the rain. His large hand shot out, his fingers digging painfully into her jawline.

He ground his teeth together, the muscle in his cheek jumping as he demanded to know the name of the man.

Evelyn tilted her chin up defiantly, a cold, mocking smile on her lips as she told him he didn't deserve to know.

The rims of Carter's eyes turned a furious, burning red.

He released her jaw with a violent shove, dropping back into the leather seat and slamming the heavy door shut.

The Aston Martin's engine roared like a wounded animal, thick white smoke pouring from the exhaust.

He jerked the steering wheel hard. The car swerved around her, the side mirror brushing against her arm as it sped away.

Muddy water splashed against her bare legs as the red taillights disappeared into the black night.

The adrenaline completely drained from her veins. Her knees buckled, and she crashed hard onto the wet asphalt, sobbing uncontrollably into the rain.