d's mind, irrational and consuming. He had spent three years telling himself she was being corrected, not destroyed-that

eleased Chloe's wrist, and her face crumpled with practiced vulnerability. She looked up at Conrad through her lashes, eyes glisten

e pulled her wrist back, cradling it against her chest. The gestur

sessiveness. "I need a word with my daughter." She turned to Cassie. "Please take Mr.

her voice a honeyed murmur. "Conrad, Father recently acquired an exceptional Ceylo

ng back as Griselda pulled her away. He gave a c

onrad stood motionless, watching the empty hallway. The sunlight

was bright and guileless. "Conrad, did you come to see me?" Her posture was perfect, her dress

ore her cold dismissal had frozen the gesture in his throat. He pulled it out and thrust it toward Cassie instead.

tful reluctance, "Please don't blame Sister. When she said she no longer had feelings for you... maybe she's just looking f

astern Seaboard would have her." The statement was meant to wound Chloe in absentia, but it

ister does need to marry someone eventually...

hort and brutal. She didn't want marriage. She wanted a bigger prize. A higher branch to climb. Th

ery feature, but beneath it lay a steely resolve that Chloe recognized all too well. This

g." Her hands twisted together, the ri

publicly announce that I'm voluntarily stepping aside. Handing th

rest of my life making it up to you." Tears welled up, her voice breaking. "Cassie isn't like you. Her reputation is spotle

ghed. What's a little more dirt on someone who's already been buried in it? She felt the

loe asked. Her voice was calm, businesslik

used. "What?" She had expected capitulatio

cate precision. "You said you'd compensate me, Madam Montoya. What exactly are you offe

ranger wearing her daughter's skin. The girl who had once begged for scraps of affection was gone. In her place stood