er's son Slade was one third of the boys' trifec

in the dark?" He took anothe

.. thinking."

es wrinkled his Brooks Brothers suit. He was roughly a decade and a half yo

rn their exact age. Sawyer's years were well hidden behind laugh lines and eyes so clear she could

ad inherited the same sort of devastatingly handsome presence, but disguised it behind youthful attire. Masculin

r always dressed to the nines. Even now, his tailored suit and dark ve

o fall all over him. Though, to her knowledge, he hadn't been in any sort o

he carpet, his smile full of ge

f the desk, his broad shoulders relaxing with ease on

to his eyes. "Lucian

check. "Your father asked me to deliver this to you." The heavy paper landed on the desk with little flourish c

hundred thousand dollars. That was more t

ver com

between them, the proof that her father intended to

g else, Isadora?" Sawyer

humiliating affairs, which she believed drove their mother to an early grave. She shut her eyes, fearful she might see pity in his stare. It was no se

hat she prove she and her siblings were deserving of love a

cing a veil worn thin with time and neglect. She needed s

in. "I suppose the next time I hear from

r you," Sawyer murmured, his watc

oo tired to hide her hurt. "He used to call first, dis

d major life event when their mother was alive, back when they still acknowledged such milestones. Now he was nothing more than her f

guidance whenever their paths crossed. In a way, she sometimes missed him, but only recognized the emotion when his familiar face appeare

nk y

a matter of fact, he seemed to see her apart from Lucian and Toni altogether, as if she wasn't

child and started viewing her as an adult, but his recognition had a way of vindicating certain accomplishments ot

knowing glance. "Do you think Lu

amily's polit

se was succinct

proval in his eyes. Not for her or her

I accepted. Next time I'

s fi

how up unannounced. They would be fine without him. She'd had an emotional