Chapter 574

Chapter 573:

He wanted to mark his territory on a global broadcast. He wanted Kieran — and anyone else who dared to look at her — to see him playing the perfect, devoted, terrifyingly powerful husband.

Jocelyn let out a breathless laugh. It was so arrogant. So entirely, unmistakably Gaston.

“I hope you know how to act natural on camera, Mr. Collins,” she teased, her heart racing.

His hands tightened on her hips. He backed her up until her spine met the cool glass of the shower door.

𝗗іѕсо𝗏𝖾𝗿 𝗇𝗲𝘸 s𝘵o𝗿𝘪𝘦𝘀 o𝗇

“I will show them exactly how obsessed I am with my wife,” he whispered, his mouth trailing down her jawline.

He kissed her deeply, his tongue sweeping into her mouth and claiming her with a fierce, burning hunger. Jocelyn melted against him, the contract entirely forgotten on the counter.

By the following morning, Gaston’s elite legal team had dismantled Penelope’s contract and rebuilt it from the ground up, ensuring Jocelyn held authority over every aspect of the production. The show was officially greenlit.

The air in the Queens hospice room smelled of bleach and decay.

Elouise Stein lay on the narrow bed, her chest rising and falling in shallow, painful jerks. She stared blankly at the grey wall.

The door swung open with a violent bang.

Richard Stein, Elouise’s younger brother, swaggered into the room reeking of cheap cigars and stale bourbon. His face was flushed, and his eyes darted around the depressing space with undisguised contempt.

He walked straight to the bed and stared down at his dying sister without a trace of pity.

“I need fifty grand, Elouise,” Richard said, his voice a harsh, grating bark. “I got in too deep at a poker game in Brighton Beach. The Russians are threatening to break my legs. Transfer it from your trust p>

Elouise turned her head slowly and let out a dry, rattling cough.

“I have nothing, Richard,” she whispered, her voice hollow. “Robert threw me out. Jocelyn cut off my access. I am penniless p>

Richard’s face twisted into an ugly sneer. He slammed his heavy fist down on the metal bedside table, sending the plastic water pitcher jumping.

“Don’t lie to me!” he shouted, spittle flying from his lips. “You are a Stein. You have money stashed away. Give me the damn money p>

Trembling, Elouise reached into the nightstand drawer, pulled out her medical file, and weakly tossed it onto the blanket between them.

“Read it,” she sobbed. “Stage four lung cancer. I cannot even afford my pain medication. I am dying, Richard p>

Richard picked up the file and scanned the bold medical terms. His expression did not soften. His lip curled with absolute contempt.

He gripped the thick file in both hands and tore it violently in half. The sound of ripping paper echoed through the small room. He threw the shredded pieces onto Elouise’s chest.