His hand still tingled from where he had gripped her waist. The fab

sistant, who was still staring

Adam said flatly. "Y

as Allison Montgomery. Your nephe

" Adam interrupted.

ed her from a distance, tracking her career, her accomplishments, her quiet dignity

ot an

ant to know where she goes. W

, are you sure? She'

ne and sent a quick text to his security team. Then he wa

hat about the meeting wit

hedul

He had seen him acquire companies, destroy rivals, and terrify

new. And

w York air hit her face, grounding her. She raised her hand an

iver. Then she added, "Actually, n

ed time

an skyline as the taxi sped down the Van Wyck Expressway. The towe

ved to her cloud. She didn't play the audio this time. Sh

's smile. The way they moved together, li

e. Solidifying into a hard, protective shell around her

uld no

uld no

destroy

e needed to g

Estate," she t

ater. Allison paid and walked up the sweeping limestone steps. The ho

n the heavy oa

er nose. Immediately, she heard the sound of clinking crys

re cele

nd. Her heels clicked on the

arched doorway of

ll Street Journal. Katharine, his wife, was sipping tea from a delicate porcelain cup. Cheyann

on was the

ng in the doorway. His face paled. His hand

ed a bright, overly enthusiastic smile-th

r arms open. "How was the airport run? Did your fr

eak. She simply s

g at empty air. She caught her balance and lo

What's

on the mahogany coffee table. T

ing at Allison. "Why are you acting so disrespectful

d her phone f

ed the video file, and hit the AirDrop icon connecte

anne's affair instantly played on the mass

"Tell me I'm b

ce: "You are.

heyanne's desperate whispers e

p dropped from her hand, shattering into dozens of pieces on the price

devoid of color. He frantically searched the coffee

stammered, his voice cracking. "It's

pped to her knees on the rug, covering her face with her

t want to, Allie! He wouldn't let me go!

. She watched the chaos with dead eyes.

ther, the man who had promised her father on his deathbed tha

ck to purple rage. He glared at Fin

pointed a thick

fee table. "By airing our dirty laundry on a television screen like some reality show? Y

l blow to her chest. T

Really looked at hi

t Finn. He wasn't

at her for

wrapped her arms around the younger girl, rocking

h your coldness. You never gave Finn the warmth he needed. You w

uth opened.

e t

made

r the remote. He straightened his posture, adjus

emotionally available, Allison. I tried. God knows I tried. But you were like

g down her cheeks. "I didn't mean to fall in love w

front of his vest. He looked at Finn,

unced coldly, "the Montgomery-Kensingto

h. The sound scraped against her throa

ransferred to Cheyanne. She and Finn are clearly a better match. The boar

r. "You need to step aside for your sister's happiness

k her hand. He looked at Allison wit

ou and I were never right for each other. You'll

at the four peo

aunt. Her sis

together, rewriting histo

lt a physical snap in her chest. The heavy weight of trying to please these people-the years of pro

terrifying, ho

yell. She

ly nodde

uched her lips. It didn't re

llison sa

m went

anne repeate

ingle word. She walked out of the livi

y doors of Baker's study-the room where her father used to work, where he

complete isolation

was

meant she owed n