MI

da

was how long I had to wait for

phone, willing it to ring, willing a message to appear, willing something

with every passing hour, the knot in my sto

t called

going to

erything I had, and he had let me walk out with

ld trust anyone. I had been fool

e mansion was alive with servants and stylists and the so

ed, the murmur of caterers setting up the buffet, the di

ad spared n

rthday celebration...

Vane in front of the entire Upper East Side, an

princess and hand me to a monster

f. I was wearing a deep emerald gown that hugged m

's old collection...the pieces my father hadn't sold. I looked beautiful. I

whispered to my ref

had no allies. I had no plan. I had nothing but a burni

Your father requests your presence

houlders. And I walked out of my roo

*

om was mag

new money and everyone in between, all of them dressed in

who had smiled at me at galas and parties and never once asked if I

e stage, deep in conver

ed across his belly, and his small eyes

eside them, looking smug and satisfied, and when o

a glass of champagne in her hand, her face tight with worry.

tried and failed, that Gavin Easton had rejected me, that I was abou

her, her voice low and urgent

m f

've been ignoring my

eezed her hand. "Just stay c

eyes searching m

elegant, and my father stepped onto the stage. He ta

on, the man of the hour-and he smiled at th

My daughter, Camille, turns twenty-three today. And I am proud to announce that she has

ld stepped forward, his hand extended tow

on the stage. Everyone was watching. Ev

the per

didn'

" I

ed. The murmurs began. Harold's hand froze in midair. My father's smi

me?" h

, louder this ti

dging, curious, shocked. I saw Violet's mouth fall open. I saw Jacob's

s voice low and danger

stumble. I moved like a woman who had nothing le

ather, Harold, and Jacob, and I smiled...

. "I reject the offer. I w

ille

ballroom, "than be married to a man three times my age. I would rath

or more. This was better than any performance. This was real.

ying," my father hissed. "You'

a chess piece. He has paraded me at galas, used me to charm investors, treated me li

stretch. Then I said the words

ho stands against my father and his corruption. I would

ople looking at each other, whispering, wondering. I saw my father's face contort

," I

went qu

ou

at each other.

hr

her eyes wide, her lips

wo

nto a fist. I saw Jacob take a

ne

t through the silen

m, his dark hair slightly messy, his gray eyes fixed on me

led up to his elbows, and he moved with the confidence of

ent, neither of us spoke. Then he took the champagne glass from my hand and set it a

" he said. "

n he ki

d disappeared. My father, Harol

ands in my hair, his body pressed against me

ck with everything I had, because I had almost given up, because I had tho

apart, the room was

And my father was storming towa

Gavin. "You did this. You tu

her own," Gavin said calmly. "I'm just th

led. "Get out of my house

think you mean your daughter's house. Or

u think you can just walk in here and take what doesn't

cold and sharp as a blade. "She is mine now. And if you

hand. He looked at me, and there was something in his eyes

aid. "You have betrayed this fami

d. "I never w

"The battle line is drawn," h

owing close behind. The crowd watched them go, a

His grip was warm

is man who had walke

imed me in fron

my father's greatest rival

said. "I'

oom together, leaving the