nd stepped back into the ballroom

mation was b

ors and desperation, now looked like a deliberate, deconstructed design choice. It showcased her long,

ning over Serena in her pristine white go

g the new lines of the dress, lingering for a fraction of a second on a dark, irregular mark near the raw hem-a faint, muddy residue that re

m, the center of the room's power. And for the first time, under the

drained

t in her throat.

was

eyes from the Rolls-Royce. The man on the magazine cover. Her one-n

all the sa

ed over her. She took a half-step back, her

A slow, dangerous smile touched the corner of his mouth, a barely perceptible cu

rlisle stepped forward, clearing his

se bonhomie. "As we all know, the alliance between the Carl

ct, his gaze sweeping the r

is only fitting that this alliance is solidified by blood. The engag

dropped into the

s. She turned to Liana, her voice trembling with practiced fragility. "Oh,

rough his hair, looking deeply annoyed. The identity of his fi

She didn't scream. S

d against a marble column, an expression of profound, chilling indifference on h

y outburst would have. "What's wrong with you?" he muttered

ess benefits of a union with the true heiress were too great to

tretched, thi

e first time, his voice c

ou are to marry into this alliance, you will start

ite. "The mailroom? U

s voice rang out, sharp and clear. She took a slow sip of her champagne. "Putting hi

asp rippled th

for Julian to explode, to

his dark eyes, for the first time, she saw something other than cold assessmen

yelled, pointing a trembling finger at her. "You're a nobody! A

ed, saving him from

t told the final story. Julian sat at the head of the long, imposing

able, next to an empty chair, a clear and pub

o was awkwardly fumbling with her silverware, look like a clumsy amateur. Liana's back was ramrod straight,

iness-mergers, acquisitions, market futures. Liana wa

put down his

e crystal rim of his water glass, the

the table, past the flowers, past the c

intimate murmur that carried with terrify

the air, a silken, deadly thre

-