, his face calm and detached,

ke it to heart,"

er lost his temper with her that one time when she complained

l restraint and forbearance, her beautifu

s Clark is an illegitimate child, I thought the Clark family at least raised her right. Yet by barg

obbing. Rachael's seemingly casual remarks landed w

stiffened on her

er's face grew

Milly and lightly tapped her shoulder in reassurance. "Everyone knows we're best frie

punched Xander's chest with her fist. "If my reputa

he man to laugh

r off, Xander c

. Sitting across from Rachael with his long legs crossed, he shed his former wa

no idea how bad the situation really is. The Spencer Group is in serious trouble, and it was Milly who used her distant ties to the Shaw family i

family in

chael let out a silen

as meant to be the Spe

a different turn. No one expected that Rachael was th

't just succeed in going public-their stock would skyroc

n't deserve such fo

ifeline for the Spencer Group but

her, things wouldn't have been settled so smoothly. In business, connections and family background are often the most valuable assets. I know you grew up as an orphan in the countrysid

nation, yet every senten

would reflect on herself, thinking she was useless, that she couldn't h

and compromise had only be

r heart and soul into turned out to

he way, dear, the bank called today. They said there's a problem with the paperwork for our joint account, something related

He awkwardly picked up the cup of water on the table. "Sweetheart, I've been extremely busy lately. Let's talk about

ese documents supposed to be dealt with in pers

ike a cat teasing a trapped mouse, sav

ining good days wer

is. Just focus on your own things, Rachael. Banking procedures are complicated, not something a ho

in, he leaned back against the so

control the narrative even as

lind she had been, pouring her

, I'll make an effort to spend more time with you." He spoke fro

nces too many times before, and not

words fell, the phone in