uffocating gloom of the mansion. She drew in a deep breath of s

humb moved with cold, surgical precision. Darius. Gen

ght. Don't let the door

names in a contact list. Deleted in three

is chest, a violent coughing fit seizing

ushed in. "Father,

man... she's a viper," he wheez

are laid bare in court, she'll realize just how badly she's overplayed her

ne thing. There isn't a top-tier law firm in New York that would risk

ed something he'd known all along. "Exactly. Give her a w

saw her

there's something I should have told you. I think my father men

ing the crisis. It seems the Mullen

ne eyebrow arched. "Wha

eyes with practiced modesty. "My father saw you were in trouble, and for your sake, he..

h innocence. "We never dreamed she'd turn around an

's mysterious source of funds while castin

go exactly what it craved. His expression didn't harden with an

or my family's generosity. And now she's trying to cash in on it." He took Daphne's hand, his thumb brushing

people. A woman like Daphne was a simple book. He had seen through her in seconds-the pr

ed his purposes, s

st, no

rying the weight of exhaustion.

ight hand on the small of her back. "The moment the papers are signed, you're

nto him, radian

tracked Daphne-calculating, unconvinced. But

m Long Island, Isabelle's phone r

this along. He recommends Briaan Hudson

e phone aside. Isabelle pointed the car tow

in the rearview mirror. She d