grand banquets and political posturing, not intimate family meals. Silas sat at the head of a table long enough to se

her file folder. He looked every bit the 'Ice King' the tabloids w

n't an invitation; it was a ve

by the hour," Elara replied. Her voice remained steady, a feat of pure willpow

loorboards. "I've had a very interesting hour, Elara. While you were busy 'dyeing' your hair and playing house in the woods over the last few ye

ive years ago-a girl in a gold mask, radiant, reckless, and glowing with a hope that had long since been ex

a lie." Silas stood, his presence filling the room and making the vaulted ceilings feel suddenly, claustropho

ara snapped, her voice trembling wit

rk curl of hair. "Mrs Gable found this on his pillow while you were busy with the Coq au Vin. The lab is already running the DNA. We both k

, the world spinning in shades of grey. "What do you want, Silas? Five years ago, you called me a 'distraction.' You

the ice, but she saw it. "I was a different man five years ago. And y

tem on a balance sheet? An inconve

reality of your situation, Elara. You have two choices. Number one: The Flight. You can try to run again. I have guards at every exit and my private security on every ro

ot, bitter tears. "You wouldn't. You can't be that h

, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous silk that made

ed front to the board of directors. Leo is recognised as my legal heir immediately. You get the limitl

t the dense legal jargon. "You want to buy a

to tilt her chin, forcing her to look into those smouldering, storm-grey eyes. "Sign the paper

the weight of her impossible choice, until a small

going to have

is "ninja" mask pushed up to his forehead, his arms crossed in a perfect imi

ing for a fraction of a second. "A... bouncy castle? T

quinting at the multi-million pound contract. "If I'm the heir, I want a b

derment crossing his face. "Alligators are a significant liability,

'll train them. If you can't get the alligators, m

r. Seeing the most feared CEO in the Pacific Northwest being bullied by a four

the "alligator" shock. "Sign the papers, Elara. For the boy. Unless you want to explain to him why

and then at the man who had shattered her heart five years ago.

or a marriage. She w