Jenkin

m. Brady, who had just returned, stood frozen, his eyes wide, looking like he'd swall

rady. So easily startled, so transparent. He's always been the family's

But Cristopher and Carlotta, for all their past neglect, seemed unusually invested in my immediate future, at least t

th – a rare sight directed at me – smiled. "Chloe, dear

truthfully, "but I've cer

nkins family' s petty dramas look like a kindergarten playdate. And the juicy part? He' s r

supposed fiancée. And Jami' s closest ally

ather is not Damon. It' s Joel. Jami orchestrated their affair, knowing it would destabilize the family if discovered, further empowering he

onceived in manipulation. And they want me to marry Damon Ayers? The father-to-be of a ch

out to make my brother a cuckold. Bravo,

queezed it with such force that it bent in his han

singly firm, "we should... reconsider the Aye

seeing her son' s distress, quickly agreed. "Yes, darli

tentially lucrative alliance, just like that? Because of Brady' s b

ly. Jami always finds a way to spin things in her favor. She' ll just push Tiffany h

otos-not to scare her off, but to subtly suggest Chloe's vulnerability, hoping it would make Tiffany feel superior. Instead, Tiffany developed a dangerous obsessi

ly sprayed a mouthful of water across the table, narrowly

amily going to spontaneously combust e

obsessed with me? Jami's web is far more intricate and frankly, disgusting, than I imagined. I

gnant, manipulated by my adopted sister, about to ensnare my brot

hand on the table. The crystal glasses jumped, an

oice, not like that. Cristopher, usually a m

roat. "Apologies. I... just had a very sudden thought. About... the fu

strangely calm, their recent flinches an

intel on this Tiffany situation? Is there

lizing in priceless artifacts and, occasionally, human trafficking. He has several 'trophies'-people he' s illegally detained-hidden in his private estate. Tiffany discover

isn't just gossip; this is actual criminal activity. And Jami is

about my personal narrative anymore. This

out tipping off Jami or Damon? And without making it look like I'm the one 'stirr

ce. "Excuse me," I said, my voice urgent. "I just remembered I need

, startled. "Chloe,

e door, not waiting for a response. I practica

Chloe?" Brady's sneering voice fol

ice. "You have no idea what the truth is, Brady." Then I rushe

general location, hinted at the scale of the operation, and the extreme danger involved. The

up my spine. The family was huddled together, whispering furiously

o be part of this family anymore. S

? From what, her own web of lies? You think s

ndal. Her plan isn't to leave, but to marry into the family in a different way, specifically, to become Joel's wife, gaining control of his shares and ultimately, the family fortune. She manipulated

pulative snake! She's not just trying to steal the fortune; she's trying to steal my family, p

han I thought. M