Delilah Kelly tossed and turned in the penthouse she shared with Maximus Anderson. Born into nothing, she lacked the pedigree to even set foot in the Anderson estate. Life was rigged; the wealthy only grew stronger by clinging to one another, leaving people like her to scramble for scraps while their genuine love went ignored.

Late that night, she dialed Maximus. "Maximus, I’m terrified," she sobbed into the phone. "Please, just come to me."

Maximus felt his resolve crumble at the quiver in her voice. "Stay put, Delilah. I’m coming."

Relief washed over her. He was still hers.

"You're here," she breathed, sprinting to the foyer as the lock clicked. Maximus stood there, his face illuminated by a wide, predatory grin.

Delilah collided with his chest, clinging to him like a desperate kitten. "It’s been an eternity."

Maximus smoothed her hair, his touch deceptively gentle. "My heart has never left you."

She tipped her head back, capturing his lips. Maximus gripped the back of her neck, his tongue sweeping into her mouth, deepening the kiss until the air grew thick. He discarded his coat with a savage yank, sweeping her off her feet. She wrapped her legs around his waist, and he pinned her against the wall, his hunger turning feral.

She pressed her body into his, desperate to dissolve into him, when the sharp, piercing trill of a phone cut through the heat.

The fire in his eyes dimmed. Maximus yanked his phone from his pocket, scowling. It was a call from the hospital. A strange, cold prickle settled in his gut.

He answered. Penny Shaw’s voice was clipped and frantic on the other end.

"Mr. Anderson, Rose Harrison has attempted suicide. We’re performing an emergency transfusion, but she’s fading fast. We need you here to sign the critical condition papers immediately."

"If I don’t show up, you can’t operate?" Maximus retorted, his voice dripping with irritation. The nerve of that woman—playing the suicide card just to claw at his attention?

He felt a vein throb in his temple. The mood in the penthouse was shattered. Delilah, her eyes sharp and observant, caught the gist of the conversation.

She felt a surge of cold triumph. Let her bleed out. She wasn't worth the effort to kill, but her absence would save everyone a lot of trouble.

"What is it? Hospital trouble?" She draped herself over him, her chest pressing against his, trying to reignite the embers. "Is it Rose?"

She loathed the girl. Maximus belongs to me, she thought, her expression hardening as she rested her chin on his shoulder. Rose, if you want to die so badly, I’ll be more than happy to help you finish the job.