LEY

d towards the so

ority. He was dressed in a flawlessly tailored white suit that stood in stark contrast to the grim proceedi

us. The heir to the

d, immediately bowed their heads in a show of deep respect and barely concealed terror. Wha

slight, almost imperceptible limp. He brought a fine linen h

lingered for a moment on the crumpled form of Amber being helped away, then on Preston's furious face, and fi

red, hurried forward. "Your Highness! This

nce. His gaze remained fixed on me, a flicker of genuine curiosity in t

didn't cower. I recognized this for what it was:

ontrol. "Fine, Hayley! You win!" he snapped at me, his voice a low growl. "Elysian Scen

t. He thought he could buy my

ly. "My mother's leg

has a price!

rticularly good play. Something in his expression-a barely perceptible tilt of his head, a glint of approval in those sharp grey

ck what was mine. I woul

If you insist on buying something that is alre

ned si

ally slapped him. Twelve million was an astronomical sum, enough t

kind of money!" Howard s

ed, tapping his chin. "To ensure the Payne family's reputation remains intact... to avoid a rather messy and public in

rried the weight of a royal comma

fuse in front of the Prince was unthinkable. To have the family

urned to me, his eyes filled with a reluct

e folder, I produced a second docume

an agreement," I said, hold

and trembled with rage as he snatched the pen and scrawled his name o

ed it all, his smi

ned agreement, but

aid, my voice stoppin

e agreement, I added a new clause in clear,

days," I read aloud. "Failure to comply will render this agreement null and void, and a co

l in their coffin. N

I, a woman he had discarded and despised, tucked away the legally binding instrument o

aiting in the wings. Behind him, a tall, imposing figure