hrough the tall French wind

her black hoodie and faded jeans. After a solid night of undisturbed

m landing, the sleek black pho

earpiece into her ear and tapped the ans

gh the encrypted line, backed by the low purr of a luxury engine. "My convoy j

the formal dining room. Even over an encrypted line

she had no intention of letting anyone tear

e quiet, crisp, and firmly distant. "I told you last nigh

the backseat of his Maybach, Flin

slapped it away without a second thought. Winning her trust was pr

ssness and dangerous tension in his low voice. "You saved my lif

life," Alison replied coolly. "If you walk through those fr

r two seconds before Flint le

I won't set foot inside your house this morning," Flint co

zero. If they don't know how to watch their mou

ell him off, Flint en

it into her pocket, and pushed open th

of the family, reading The Wall Street Journal through gold-rimmed glasses. Eugeni

louse with a thick silk scarf wrapped carefully around

Alison's bag, Brook had woken Harrison and Eugenia up at dawn, weeping pitifully and c

hed, Harrison slammed his ne

on't even greet your own parents?" Harrison barked, his stern face flushing with

oked calmly at the biological father she was meeting for the

id in a flat, unbothered

r my roof, you will live by my rules! If you keep acting like an untamed street

, she stood up and walked over to the marble beverage counter

lanese smart espresso system, integrated seamlessly into the

licious glint flickered in Brook's eyes. She saw the p

k scarf around her neck and spoke up in a soft, patr

sole!" Brook called out, putting on

tate's smart grid. You grew up in Pine Ridge and

achine like that, you could lock up the syste

cending smile. "Why don't you step back and let the maid make you a cup of instant

A backwoods dropout probably can't even read an Italian barista interface. S

t, fully expecting her biological daughter to stand ther

ack half-turned to the table, Alis

flew across the capa

nlocked the hidden barista calibration mode, and dialed the wat

e brass portafilter into place, and triggered

warmed porcelain cup, filling the dining room with the deep aroma of fres

. How could an uneducated girl from a mountain shack navigate a

ok immediately lowered her gaze, clutching the silk sca

her slender shoulders trembling as

Alison so she wouldn't hurt

ay she's glaring at me right now is terrifying! She hates me so much that she treats e

ile tears, Harrison and Eugenia didn't care one b

hine just to throw a tantrum!" Eugenia snapped viciously, glaring at Alis

hard onto the mahogany table, maki

and pointed a trembling,

ing a fool of yourself, yet you respond with hostility and spite! You

ison with cold satisfaction as he waited t

rrison thundered across the room. "If you refuse to bow your head today, I'll

a slow, calm sip of her espresso. Her cold amber eyes swept over the furious fa

ting the saucer down with a crisp click. "I don't thin

--! Security! Get

afening roar of heavy engines echoed from the front driveway outs

ors of the dining r

d into the room gasping for breath, every d

ut, her voice shaking uncontrollably