s penthouse office. The view of

Ava said. Her

leaned back in his leather chair. A smile

dded.

. A polo accident. Their mothers, Eleanor and a Sterling woman

, you know. Practically a vegetable. It get

om his second marriage, a constant, living reminder of his betrayal of Ava's mother, Eleanor. Eleanor, who died under a cloud of suspicion after

e still. "There

ive hand. "Of course,

e. The full amount. Rel

That was a significant sum, money

he pr

tone in her throat. "He's to be reass

n, for whom she nursed a secret, hopeless ache. She knew Ethan was infatua

l be thrilled. She finds him quite charming." He clearly saw this as a si

her stomach. She had to do this.

ecurity consultant. He was all quiet competence, his gaze direct, his movements economical. She'd been drawn to his profe

be so formal?" she'd teased

lt through her. "It's appropriate, Ms. Monroe." Always "Ms. Monroe." Never Av

d just hand

lding, already with Chloe. Chloe was laughing, her head tilted back, her hand resting lightly on Ethan's arm. Ethan's posture was still professional, but there was a softness in his

y for one of her mother's charities that night, had quietly intervened to help a flustered elderly woman who had spilled a drink on a powerful s

he one to handle the delicate situation. Ava had seen Ethan watching, his gaze fixed on Chloe with an expression of awe. He thought Chloe was an angel.

fice, waiting to sign the last of the transfer documents for her inheritance. She overheard Ethan talking to a

s anyone, Marcus," Ethan was saying, his voice low and firm. "I'm doing

?" Thorne's voi

titled, cold. Used to getting her own way. Nothing like

f the pain she carried, the grief for her mother, the constant erosion of her spirit by

disdained Ava. His true identity, a scion of the Hayes dynasty, meant his earlier professionalism wasn't

orm. She would take her mother's money. She would go to Texas. She would le