sat at the table, glowing with victory, while Eleanor

o ensure a smooth transition on the Seacrest Bay project, Francisco will person

er nail in Chloe's coffin. Francisco stared down

able. "Well, with Kasey being so busy at the offic

"Chloe, since you have so much free time n

ze, their eyes wide. It was the ultimate humiliation: the lady of the

fect mask of false sympathy. "Oh, Aunt Eleanor, we

to her palms. But when she looked up, her face was

soft and agreeable. "I'd be happy

fusion, their triumphant blow landing not with a satisfying crack, but with a dull thu

were

office, a smug, self-satisfied power co

hostility, a reflection of the attitudes of the adults around him. He deliberatel

She calmly blotted th

id, her voice gentle. "Let's play a

stine, meticulously kept rose garden at the side of the house. It was Francisco's

Leo a pair of small, sharp gardening shears from the toolshed. "The prince nee

rtunity for sanctioned des

e snipped off the heads of the most beautiful, fully bloomed roses, one by one.

he prize-winning rose gard

ening, Chloe heard voices from the garden before sh

suit. Kasey was beside him, and little Leo was tuggin

Daddy!

t the air l

A flash of panic crossed his features-there and gone in an instant, quickly masked. Kasey followed his gaze and

dn't know yo

her expression calm, almost amused. "It's alright," she said, her v

cating gesture. "Chloe, Leo is still young. His father isn't around much, so

off with a sweet smile that didn't reach her eye

, Kasey's face burning with humiliation and Francisco's eyes filled wi

ading a magazine, with Leo playing at h

r of fury echoed from

om, his face purple with rage

lap. "I was just playing with Leo, dear. He said he loved the flowers, so I let

n mantra when it came to indulging the boy. It w

stful of decapitated rose st

ck a desperate explanation. His rage was choked in his throat. He couldn't yell at his precious son, the future of the Sterling dynasty. Kasey rushed in, drawn by the shouting. She saw t

trapped.

s just a taste. A small, petty revenge, yes, but deeply

bed, her phone buzzed with a message from an

orrow, 10 a.m. A discre

confirmation and then del