Hayes

cked open, breaking the quiet

ng neatly behind him. Arthur Sterling. Beside him was Grace Sterling, her usual composure gone. Two

overed her mouth, then hurried across the carpet. Her ivor

.. my swe

studying every detail as tears spilled down her cheeks

her arms, holding me tightly. "Twenty-three years, my darling

my rough hands closed around the silk of her blouse. I had spent so many years bel

om

ng family stopped beside me, his shoulders slightly lowered and hi

emotion. "And my stubborn chin. Welcome home, my daughter. From to

ehind him ste

isible beneath his cuff. His features were sharp, his expression

I'll handle the family business, but from now on, your needs come

cket and carried the easy confidence of a famous acto

f his eye and gave me a playful wink. "I canceled three overseas shoots to get here. If an

tical uniform, his arms crossed an

ars searching for me. The thought settled slowly in my chest, almost too precious to accept. I wasn't an unwanted o

ets. Grace stopped beside them and covered her

ames, sweetheart?

officially regis

twins. "Then they will carry the Sterli

terling," I re

felt stran

serious. He stepped closer to m

erything. Who put

d forced myself to revisit every detail I had tried to

creating the collections that built his company, and how he had used legal loopholes to take control of my designs. I told them how he and V

ished, no

ny side table. The thick wood cracked, and the cryst

expression hardened as his hand

ted satellite phone, his

r credit lines will be frozen. By two, their suppliers will sta

an,

ught his wrist. Ever

es, my voice steady. "His empire was built on my

ner of his mouth lifted. The anger in his expr

suite. "She's a Sterling. Fine. We'll leave Zack t

e, a muffled commotion came

gant voice carried th

stries! I demand an audience with the patron of this

rs. I knew that voice. It was Zack. I never expec