ella

ng solarium. The cool breeze of the manicured gardens hit my flushed face, but the adr

asing her memory, selling her jewelry to fund her own vanity. Crying to my father was useless. So, I wore a faded, too-small dress to the Mayor's Gala, "accidentally" spilled juice on Chicago's

ght was over. The mistress was banished, and my inheritance was locked in a trust. I learned the

lla, w

hurried down the path, glancing nervousl

eled Eleonora's broken chessboard. Katarina DeLuca. Eleonora's niece, Angelina's best friend, and Gloria's distant cousin. She wa

nd," Sophia murmured. "You de

k she took by telling me this. "Thank you,

amien sitting in a secluded stone gazebo near the cliff's edge. A glass of amb

lling me. I am taking the cliff stairs back to our wing," I announced

yes narrowing. "The stones

challenging smile. "Then hold my hand, husband. I wouldn't

is *Soldiers*(guards) stood watch. His jaw clenched, the muscles feather

ve a careless shrug, and turned toward the lo

exactly th

rough, calloused palm swallowing mine, his fingers interlocking with my own like a steel vice.

mmanded, his baritone tight wi

d as he led me tow