ked under Elza's feet. It was a sound fro

en hers before she was sold off to the Drakes. She knelt by the bed,

sapphire necklace. It wasn't particularly expensive, but it

r bange

sed the box and stood up,

two maids. She looked immaculate in white

voice dripping with false sweetn

on the box tightened unti

tard doesn't get heirlooms. Grab

l who didn't know better, r

arm. It was a subtle, practiced movement-not of a trained fighter, but of someone who had learned leverage fro

, dropping to h

p back, her mouth f

ng her hand. Elza pulled out her phone. She typed

Elza Drake are considered collateral assets of Drake Holdings. Interferenc

from shock to fury. She hadn't expecte

" Clotilde hissed, stepping close. "He's going to prison, El

looked at her half-sister the way a scientist

red past Clotilde, knocking the

oice carrying down the stairs. "Oh, yes, it's tragic. El

e record button on her phone, and captured ten seco

he foyer, arguing with his lawyer. He stopped when he saw

sneered. "I thought I

small, stiff bow-the perfect, obe

He was agitated, needing a t

s there, but beneath it was a steeliness, a quiet rage that mirrored the

d, a flicker of recognit

look was gone. She was just

tered, rubbing his temples. "

ocked the door. She placed t

the dim room. She logged into a secure terminal.

dustries. Specifically, the subsidiary

e

the volume. I

ec

hit

ummet. Clotilde wanted to talk about