he ward like she owned the place. Glancing around the room, she scoffed in con

e she was speaking a foreign language. She glanced at her dad,

ady, so I need you to listen carefully," s

wrong ward-" Leslie's dad started to

up about anything at this point. She glanced back at the woman, who was still looking at them like they were a bunch

rudely. "If you want to know why I'm here, meet me at the caf

tement because the woman just turned around and wal

ays," her dad said, his v

him in and cooed, "We'll talk later, Dad. I promise. I'll tell

estioned, "You're not gonna go a

at least to kno

e said and y

Bye, Dad," she said

u later

.

ke someone of deep sophistication. What was she looking for in her dad's ward? Did Dad owe her money? She thought out loud but then cr

all café and spotted the woman almost instantly, mostly because she stood out like a sore thum

arp voice that made Leslie flinch intern

ie asked, pointing to the

p at her and sighed

said, "My name is Leslie Harrison. Maybe you could explain why you ca

'claimed'? I don't make claims, dear child. Everythin

lie retorted carefully, her

ckwood," she said, impa

n name in New York. Only one family used that name around here. Her eyes w

eanor said, the smugne

urself doing here, ma'am?" Leslie ask

a proposition for you," Eleanor said, settlin

ave for someone like me, ma'am?" Sweat dampened Leslie'

ther's cancer, and I also know that you're financ

. "H-how did you know? I thought the hosp

thly Botox check-up when you walked out the door. The doctor casually spoke about you with pity, so I dec

he clenched and unclenched her fingers repeatedly. "So

inherit the Blackwood legacy, and I think you're the per

ent. A marriage proposal? Was she hearing rig

ould be mutually beneficial. In exchange, I will take care of all

line was almost up, and heavy bills still needed to be paid. But marry a complet

rstand that this might be a lot to take in, but take this as a chance to save

uture? She couldn't utter any words. Eleanor passed a small purple card to Leslie and said quietly, "I'll give you 2 days. Remember, the offer

things: her father, her future, and her ridiculous bad l