A Splash of Hope Read Online Free PDF

purposely omitted it had been four months since Serenity had lived there.
    Adam stood, obviously waiting for the punchline, until it seemed to dawn on him that was all Faith had. “You don’t know where your own sister lives?”
    Faith shifted uncomfortably beneath his open disbelief and condescending tone. “Things have been kind of crazy lately. Not to mention, Serenity has become more distant in the past year. I really don’t know why I’m explaining myself to you. If you’d simply give me her new address, then I will be on my way, and out of your hair. Again ,” she added, for pure spite.
    It was Adam’s turn to look uncomfortable. “I don’t know where Serenity lives,” he admitted. “It never occurred to me to ask.”
    Frustrated, Faith ran her fingers through her hair, barely resisting the urge to tear it from the roots.
    Adam shrugged. His indifference on the matter couldn’t have been more evident. “It’s not as if we’re in love or anything.”
    Faith’s confusion grew. “Then why were you getting married?”
    “She’s a beautiful woman. I needed to give the appearance of a steady life. She was willing.”
    “I don’t understand. Since when do you care about appearances? And really, what did Serenity get out of all this?”
    Adam’s smile tinged with bitterness as he threw his arms wide. “Take a look around, Faith. What do you think she was getting?”
    Faith did as he bade. She wasn’t impressed. The two-story brick building was similar to every other one on the block. It was big and stylish. Not to mention, it obviously required a gardener and pool boy. It wasn’t that he didn’t have a nice home, but it felt cold and money wasn’t everything. “Serenity isn’t the type of woman who would marry for monetary gain.” As she said the words, her certainty grew. Serenity wouldn’t have cared about his home.
    “Don’t be a fool.” Adam’s statement dripped with scorn. “ Everyone has a price. Don’t they?”
    She flinched as his jibe hit home. “Well,” she said, recognizing her cue to leave. “I’m glad I stopped by. I might’ve driven myself crazy with worry if I hadn’t. Now I realize my sister made the right decision. Have a nice life, Adam. Let’s not talk again soon.”
    *
    “Goddamn it.” Adam could hear the growl in his voice as he slammed the door closed behind Faith. He was powerless to stop it. She was still a fucking coward, even after all this time. Moving to stand by the window, he watched Faith’s retreating form until he couldn’t see her any longer. He barely resisted the urge to put his fist through the wall. Why did her “have a nice life, Adam” have to sound so much like “go to hell, Adam”? She looked tired. Her eyes held a hard edge. It hadn’t been there the last time he’d seen her. Despite those things, she was still the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. How was it he’d spent the past two years missing her while she seemed to look right through him? If she’d been the one set on marrying someone else, he would have been beating his chest like a possessive caveman… right after he fucked up some dude’s face. With another growl of frustration, Adam headed back to the weight room. He needed to release his anger somewhere before he tore out after Faith, ruining all his well-laid plans.

Chapter Eight
    Serenity: Four months earlier
    Serenity threw open the door when she realized Carter stood on the other side. “Hey!” Her voice sounded breathless, even to her ears. She brushed her hand subconsciously over her ponytail and t-shirt. “I didn’t know you were coming over today.” His eyes moved over her body, but his expression remained blank. Her heart plummeted.
    “We need to talk.”
    At his solemn tone, she stepped aside, watching mutely as Carter crossed the threshold. She noticed he didn’t bother to sit. He’s probably afraid to soil his expensive suit on my cheap furniture , she thought bitterly. She knew she was being