d barely slep

n, and Vanessa's cold laughter. But another image kept returning to her mind: Luthur Chri

ords affected

t and heartless. Yet, for reasons she couldn't explai

othere

r without demanding explanations. Luthur, on

mpletely dif

was what she wa

rated on the

Are yo

t the message

le have the bad habit of dist

onse cam

od morning

erself, s

at do y

w whether you

ded into som

Thank you

ounded troubl

s hovered abov

she had died once, that the people she loved had betrayed her,

plain something that

dn't afford to tr

atters to handle. Nothing

ssure you. But if you ever nee

is message s

about him. He never forced her

I have to get re

o. And please

ughed

're not

tunately fo

ad, smiling as she

e painful memories se

remembere

le disa

the first real step to

the man who had once prom

ayla arrived at Mr

rly twenty years. He was a careful man in his fift

armly before inv

uest yesterday. I've started review

o understand everyth

there a particular re

d her hands

ut certain matters. I want to make sure everyt

nnett

d have approved o

a folder o

res in Stanford Holdings. Some assets are managed directly by you,

those assets with

ty attached to it. I've found no reason to assume your assets

conduc

tain

eaned f

my signature, every active authorization, and any

regarded her

iced anything

ask questions now than

ve a small, a

llent pr

her document f

ked me to ensure that you received independent legal advic

heart ti

h, her father was t

explai

future. He trusted your judgment, but he knew you s

ng because th

be kind, but he had also warned her ne

ife, she had forg

ne has been making inquiries abou

appropriate inquiries. However, I won

s all

ve, the lawyer handed

gn something, contact me first

the card int

u. I won'

d to keep every promis

nd Ethan sitting in the living ro

up as sh

have yo

g Mr. B

ately closed

he inher

es

died h

is going on

at besi

do yo

trust Adrian anymore, and you keep

uiet for

they were younger, he could tell when she w

econd life. He would never believe that she

ect him without ex

I haven't paid enough attenti

ch

's inte

n fr

r liked

looked

said tha

never l

r in his voice, o

ered he

right. I

surprised by

took h

ought I knew what was best for me, but I wasn

zed her

happ

I'm simply trying t

something to d

hesi

n too, pretending to be a loving sister. She had

the fire consumed her: He'll be fine

t risk Etha

es with Adrian or Vanessa," she said carefully.

nodded

rig

nusual happens, te

u're frigh

expression and

ten you. I just want us

for a moment

mise me s

ha

ut. Dad is gone. You're the only family

est ti

romi

a hug, holding him

had failed to protect him

make sure he never ha

Adrian Cole was b

while Vanessa paced

trangely," Vane

looked up fr

ways been

ner, she refused to discuss the estate, and at the gala,

s jaw t

remin

stoppe

e we goi

down hi

know what sh

ink she su

n't k

find

her an irr

your

folded h

sy. You said Dayla trusted you en

e d

what c

ough the glass wa

hen she was upset, how to make her feel guilty when she questioned h

usual methods

She no longer accepted his explanations without questi

as dan

tate, we need to know what

expression

I visi

what she knows, who she's speaking to, and

e refuses

believe she c

smiled

ult. She's always wanted

smile, though there

act

d the assistant passin

nversation they had just shared might

rrived at the Stanford ma

ng room when the maid

in," Da

red with a b

ht you s

the box o

it?" Da

it yesterday and

ox. Inside lay an

s bea

ng for favors. Dayla had never questioned the pattern because

ered what Va

ou," Day

sat be

could spend some time together

both be

we're

looked

psis

learly not expecti

you say

that's wh

happened? Did

osed the

ould you t

e bein

ps I'm

leaned

thing, Dayla. You kn

lmost made

the same woman

essa's voice when she admitted that sh

Anger would only warn Vanessa tha

he s

se. We'r

sa re

I wanted to ask

e it

t is

meeting with Mr. Bennett. Is s

d her stepsi

ly reviewing

lways helped you w

derstands the estate b

s smile

ur fiancé. Should

wing someone else to mak

t, Vanessa

laughed n

ink Adrian is trying to

n't sa

dn't ha

leaned

you so interested

s face went pal

stood a

me that? I'm tr

ccuse you o

e feel as i

ression rem

s you misund

rabbed he

houl

cour

ay, Vanessa

yla. Sometimes, when people become sus

la sat motionless f

ened the gi

the dress simply to manipulate her or wheth

thing wa

sister w

people often

eturned to her room a

riend had sent

ow did yo

dge of her bed a

er and had a long conve

at sounds

ing to fix things be

ything, Day. But you can decid

ed at th

yourself means hurting

took longe

elf whether those people loved you

throat t

her for the rest of their lives. She thought of Vanessa, who

f betrayal wasn't discover

yourself you had given to s

I'll ever trust any

n you were before. Just don't let the peop

he message s

that day, she fel

ways know w

etimes I wish I had sai

ned at t

at do y

se fo

regret. But it's a s

more, but she deci

d secrets,

on who made h

e beside her and lo

her father's estate. She would protect Et

sh into revenge

e them simply because th

ne advantage they

d how their b

re their plans failed before the

ast message, wondering how long he could keep pre

without ever having t

make that m