The Billionaire's Unwanted Genius Heiress

open the wooden door

ped back half a pace, bowing his head respectfully t

mily's longtime butler. "The private investigators triple-checke

high heels, pressing a silk-gloved hand to her nose. The air

sweeping a disdainful gaze over the shabby room before her eyes

en table, a black baseball cap pulled low over her forehead. Between he

st, the blade vanished up her

girl's face clearly

genia. Instead, that fearless posture and those exact defiant eyes looked just like Vivian--t

t control. Seeing her old rival's shadow in h

et and slightly raspy from lack of sleep.

uickly stepped forward, holdi

your biological mother. Eighteen years ago, there was a mix-up at the hospital, and you were

f Vivian aside and lifted her chin.

see nobody taught you proper manners in these mountains. Now that we've found you, yo

Tall and slender, she carried herself with a cool,

a faded canvas backpack, an

go," Alison said, shoving her hands

toward the open do

er handbag. She had expected a poor country girl to weep with gratitude upon seeing h

plan on bringing that filthy canvas bag into my house? Thr

th cool amber eyes. "My things are in this bag. If it bothers you,

outrage. "How dare you spea

oward the black armored SUV idling on the dirt road. "Miss Alison

at. Alison was already sitting in the opposite corner, l

stared at Alison's cold profile. The longer she looked a

lly," Eugenia said,

nd I adopted a daughter named Brook. Brook has attended the finest private schools since she wa

, offering a faint, indif

amily. Don't try to compete with her or take what belongs to her. And drop tha

, I have zero interest in your family's money, and I don't care ab

r mother, not 'Mrs. Calhoun'! Why did I even bother coming t

back a defiant daughter who was the spitting i

reath. The girl was her own flesh and blood, and the press already knew the Ca

're my blood, so I'll overlook your lack of manners for now.

n't bother

he narrow crossroads leading out of Pine R

Eugenia lurched forward with a panic

the single lane. Parked squarely between them w

draining from his face. "Ma'am... those belong to the K

eet in his pocket. Even her husband had to wait months just to get a ten-minute

on unbuckled her seatbelt, pushed the door

ed in panic through the open door. "Y

riding toward the Mayb

epped out into the mountain wind, tall and br

il Alison pulled a bullet from his chest. He had lingered in Pine Rid

he usual frost in his expression thawed. He

do?" Flint asked, his voice a low, g

family came to pick me up. Besides, your gunshot wound has heal

ways kept between them. He could buy anything in the world, yet he

shield her from the cold wind. "The Calhouns are a nest of vipers, Aliso

fe," Alison said calmly, looking straight

rther away. Reaching into his coat pocket, he pulled out a small velvet box. Ins

nd and pressed the box into her palm, his war

saving my life," Flint said soft

New York, if the Calhouns give you a second of trouble--or if you just need

owing how stubborn Flint was, if she tossed it

ing the box into her hoodie pocket. "Now

raised a hand, and the black Escalades immediately

ork very soon, Alison,

o the SUV. When she climbed inside and shut the door,

enia gripped the leather seat, her voic

you know Flint Knight? And

black hood low over her eyes. Inside her pocket, he

intance," Alis