You just gave birth-tears will

, cradling a swaddled infant against her chest. The look she s

opened her mouth. But facts had never mattered

ch of exceptional quality-diamonds and deep green jade set in platinum, a piece so rare it had once been catalogued in a Sotheby's auction as "priceless." The Ca

brooch hung around

egacy had already been transferred to the new heir. A boy who was, off

na while she's recovering from childbirth? The entire family agreed to this arrangement. Your jealous

gical precision. Jasmine'

sn't conceived for Alastair's legacy. It was conceived to compensate for my fa

face flushed an ugly mottled red. "Th

s voice was cool

e, Mother, don't scold her. If people think I'm the reason for tension between you a

ry. I'm only defending you. Some people see your gentle nature and think they can walk all o

by rooted against her chest, and something complicated flickered across her expressi

ng monarch. Catherine, the daughter still cloistered at Oxford. Seraphina, the precious jewel. And Jasmine, the unwanted stray

e heir. The family's

ho cradled him with the reverence of a woman holding salvation its

's son. Finally, something good. Someth

the feast. No one looked at her. No one spoke

words, and hung up with evident delight. "Mother, my par

s-did your father ever close on that Hudson Yards parce

for years. Too expensive. Too many politica

t's nearly done. I'm not sure about all t

g. "The Stone Group's portfolio has expanded so impressively lately. We'll be counti

're family. Whatever the Carlisle-Beaumonts n