is

halls stood bare, the walls scarred with pale rectangles where paintings had once hung. Only the oldes

he manor was not what

ucks, a sleek black carriage bearing the royal crest of the Alpha King pulled up to th

chaotic scene in a single, sweeping glance. "I am Preston Sterling," he announced, his voice cool and authoritative. "I am here on b

ward, his face arranged in a welcoming smile. "Lord Sterling! What an unexpected honor. The don

ith a command he expected me to obe

onation was pledged by the Lara

e you waiting for? This is

itories," I corrected, my voice cold. "That

s there a problem? The Crown was assured that the funds were available immediat

w. His face went ashen. "No! No, Lord Sterling, there i

reditors. I see an Alpha who cannot produce funds he pledged to the Crown. This is deeply irregular. Mi

or the first time in my life, I saw genuine terror in his eyes-not anger, not

re she sat on the steps. "Craig! Do som

ite. "This is Adriene's fault! She promised

ch for one long, terrib

ortium will ho

ead snapped toward me, his ey

lm and steady. "My mother gave her word. I will not see her name tarnished by this

d dialed Marcus, who sto

oyal Treasury immediately. The disaster relief fund.

ice came through the speaker

ledges the Lara Consortium's donation. The funds have been received." He turned a cold gaze on my father. "You are

climbed back into his

with fury. "You little fool! Why didn't you just pay it immediately? You let him threaten m

ed contempt. "I just saved you fr

anged her cane on the marble steps. "It doesn't matter! The money is

t. "Did you hear that, Carson? The donation is confirmed! The King will have no

lasped her hands together like a child receiving a gift. "Oh, Mother! I knew it! I knew Alston would not fai

or, surrounded by the evidence of their financial ruin, they were celebrat

ng at her bloodline. They had just been moments away from utter catastrophe-my father nearly

for titles. I did not tell them that Alston's promises meant nothing, that the Crown's gratitude wa

ar. "Continue with the repossession. I want every piece of furniture, every fix

ntly. "What? No! You cannot do this! The

you from prison. The repossession is a separate matter. These assets belong to t

rateful

that after I paid two hundred thousand silver coins to keep you out of chains, you are now trying to keep property that does not belo

d, his face purpled with impotent rage, but he could not speak. He could not argue. Because

wl and a sob-but even she did not dare to challenge me. Not now.

of Marcus's men continued their work-the thump of furniture being carried out, the careful wrapping o

esn't matter. None of this matters. Once Carson is Lady Carson, we will

them dream. Their awakeni

the chaos around us-the hollow manor, the celebrating in-laws, the furious, defeated man who was her hus

ou will never have to dimin

be taken to the finest private sanatorium ou

t over, but thi