ll and paused, looking aro

ht over the Italian marble floor. Near the center of the hall stood a custom white Steinway

trailed after them, her face thunderous. Even the house staff standing along

r arm out of Javen's grip. Despite the red scratch on her wrist,

s you again?" Javen warned, immedia

ftly, her eyes glistening with unshed tears a

to feel hostile toward me. After all, I've been

, holding out the velvet jewelr

like real sisters," Brook said, her

it. In fact, if seeing me in this house makes you unhappy, I can pack my

ainted her as a selfless, innocent angel f

ted daughter. She hurried over and wrapped he

ng fiercely at Alison. "You're the pride of the Calhoun family, Brook! Tonight's c

lly cold as he pushed the velv

ck with disdain as he glared at Alison. "She grew up in the backwoods and hasn't co

brief flash of triumph. Trying to cement her saintly image, she step

don't be mad a

ng with Javen, Alison suddenly took half a step for

looked down with those clear, icy amber eyes, the sheer inte

e structure was a dead ringer for Catharine Sandoval--Eugenia's billionaire mother and the

look at Alison's face, Brook's posit

, Alison leaned in slightly, speaking in

. "When the butler came to Pine Ridge three days ago for the DNA test, I ran a

e smile froze

childhood records at age six," Alison continued

y to a federal inmate every three months. You schemed so hard to cli

Brook like a

, leaving her lips paper-white. Her eyes

verseas banks to keep her biological father--a convicted gamble

a backwater mountain town dig up her de

n't some ignorant country bumpkin--she was a let

with a pale face, Javen assumed Alison had cursed or threa

st whisper to he

rd, reaching out to grab Alison by th

en's hand came down toward her shoulder, s

t Javen's wrist and drove her thumb sharply

gh

s right arm, draining all strength from his muscles. He stumbled back two steps, clut

ooking at the stunned family in front of her. "Keep

Eugenia cried out in shock,

lm gaze toward the head housekeeper, Marth

y room?" A

nd pointed a trembling finger toward the upper floor. "Second flo

furious mother and son, Alison walke

d her chest, her heart still ham

isted into venomous hatred. She knows too much, Brook thought frantical

d-floor landing, Alison walke

iny red lens of a smart-home security camera blinking in the corner

custom black phone i

ipped the bone-conduction earpiece int

t Knight's deep, amused voice came through the private line. "Though

ling, raising a cool eyebrow. "Hacking into a privat

Alison looked straight into the camera. A low, captivate

't a crime," Flint said smoothly, a

u on trial before dinner. Say the word, and my lawyers and

, walking toward the door at the end of the corridor. "Stay out o

, Alison tapped the earp

the corridor, however, Eugenia's sharp voice r

ve you permission to come