yn's

itude had changed, and

ed the office. Peter's typically icy attitude had hardened even more as

desk and said, "Mr. Austin, these a

ok. "Go away from them.

sting of his dismissal, but his s

re correct this time. Today, I ca

self by biting my lip. "Yes, sir,"

rcastic edge and an air of distrust that had not previously existed. He se

ming from the other side of the roo

"She's probably s

ched around my

dditionally, have you observed Daniel Kessler's frequent

nd, her head cocked as though she we

ple, Lilia?" I shouted, m

Evelyn, nothing. I'm just observing. If people reac

and yelled, "You'r

asked, "Am I?" "All ri

eat sprang up my cheeks. I swallowed

inging out all my insecurities. I kept thinking about Lila's stat

questioned, and treated like a wort

d to be stronger if I was going to confront Daniel, Peter,

following morning. I ignored the looks and whispers at

k with scrawled notes on my father's past. Every night, I had been doing re

o myself, "Elmont Industries was worth billi

iar voice say, "You're stil

way with his arms crossed and a smu

or?" With a sharper-tha

forward. "Evelyn, calm do

and muttered, "I do

o." "Peter Austin is not who you believe him to be." He is c

m. And why ought I to trust you? Y

nsider this: has Peter ever stood up for you? H

touched a nerve. "Don't come near me,

, you'll change your mind. You will eventually

ing until everyone had gone. There was only on

s work

d folder had its location, and it was perfectly ordered. With trembling h

most of the paperwork. However, I later discovered an envelop

le sheet of paper

printed on the pap

erson who had contribut

was t

covert arrangement, according to the document. Together, th

eled as I gaze

y inheritance in the first place, so he wasn

onceal this? What prevente

hoed in the hallway, snap

er back into the envelop

uder, stopping just o

's voice called

ed as the door

" he asked, his eyes narrowi

to respond, but

seen? What