mphant smirk had vanished, replaced by a look of wide-eyed panic. She looked from Karissa

oice a low, dangerous growl. "What the hel

ing table, a queen surveyin

rady. He loved me. He knew who your family was, and he knew you

lling shares, all of the Simon Group's most valuable liquid assets, key patents, and overseas properties-specifically, everything

e. He understood business. He unde

any name, the headquarters, the crushing debt, and the privilege of paying the salaries of five thou

he tremor in his voice betrayed him. "You

y is a daughter with a chronic heart condition whose husband just handed her anniversary g

in the ruins of their victory, and

erase herself. But it was not a

sical assault. She carried them to the kitchen and, one by one, turned on the garbage disposal, feed

de already f

droom, she opened the closet. His suits hung on one side, hers on the other. She ran her hand ove

ch item was a skin she was shedding. She sealed the boxes with packing tape, the sound loud and decisiv

ir first anniversary. It was cold and heavy in her palm. She no longer saw it as a lie, but as an asset.

g. Using her knowledge of her father's company to help him navigate its treacherous internal politics. She had guided his strategies, all to h

f them. It was of Hettie, smiling brightly.

d won. She felt a profound, chilling pity. Hettie had won a holl

ut the photo bac

nt door open. Bra

udy, stopping short w

is t

out," she said. "I'l

expression unre

empty space on the wall where a painting she loved used to hang. He didn't s

what was there

thumb gently brushi

e said, his back to her. "She's allergic

as a custom blend, a gift from her late mothe

ed her to erase

Her voice was a

vanity. She didn't put it in a box. She walked into the bathroo

oom, rich and floral. A fina

it wa