ing. She felt a fragile strength returning, a temporary repriev

r face etched with worry. "Ma'am,

za. I'm fine," Colette lie

d. It was her mother-in-law, Genevieve Lucas. She swept into the room

. "He said you were unreachable all day yesterday. That you didn't

nt, letting the accus

nd still no heir. The Lucas family requires a legacy. I'm sure you understand." It was a

ning Colette had

. "You're right, Genevieve. I do understand.

eyebrows shot up. This was no

essing her advantage, "I wan

e's lips. "Are you insane? You signed a

crypted folder. She tapped on the video file and slid the phone across the marble coffee

otage of the parking garage. The passi

anite. Her eyes were fixed on the screen, her jaw tight. The only so

d over and stopped it. The silence t

was like chipping ice. "To blackmail my

her. "I don't want Edwardo's personal assets. A contested divorce w

letting the

Family Trust. One hundred million

g in Genevieve's eyes. Not sh

y copies, will be permanently destroyed. I'll sign a non-disclosure agreement and disappear f

tood emotions. A hundred million was a small price to pay to erase a scandal, to get rid o

you credit for, Colette,"

t," Colette replied, he

d million. But I want this done in three days. My l

. "And please, make sure

" she said, her voice dripping with disdain. "I will

threat aimed at Cleo. Sh

was gone, leaving only exhaustion and the deep, aching illness in her b

was priceless. But she needed

h. The effect was almost immediate. A gentle warmth spread through her limbs, pushing back

rary fix. A bo

a painting in their bedroom. She carefully placed the medicine inside.