Aspen's face darkened with anger as she barked, "Christie, you listen to me. You are not any less than Andrew.

"The decision you made back then wasn't wrong. You're Christina Stevens, the elegant CEO of the Stevens Corporation. Are you really willing to admit that you were blind, that you misjudged Andrew so badly?"

For a moment, Christina hesitated, confusion flickering across her tear-streaked face. She shook her head. "No… of course I don't want to admit that I was blind, that I couldn't see what was right in front of me."

She mumbled, "But what's the point in denying it when the truth is so obvious? I was wrong—horribly, irredeemably wrong."

A bitter, broken laugh escaped her lips. The proud, confident woman she once was faded like the closing credits of a movie. All that remained was sorrow, regret, and a hollow sense of defeat.

Aspen let out a cold snort. "Christie, you're too kind—you always blame yourself for other people's mistakes. Think about it. Andrew's the one s