ening to my father and givi

rick, I refused to let them

mon my nearby men to te

orry. "What's wrong, sweet? I could hear your argu

reassured her it was

and I feared her heart co

welcome he

and looked at Roderick with a delicate pout.

ed his coat and draped

lose, warming h

sgust. Just yesterday, he

m any longer, I turned and

million check to shreds and tos

eed-upon meeting with Ro

ced the morning mist, pulling up

A sharp female voice suddenly cut in fro

oward me in to

, her nails nearly d

k free, and shook my hand with disg

th as her shoulders shook. "Roderick loves me! You think that engag

or now, I'm the fiancée the Hudson family acknowle

's face turn

lunged, clawing at my

ly, grabbed her wrist, and used h

balance and toppled backward,

ou pushed me! I won't le

istent dust from my hands, my tone fl

door swung open, and

black suit, his hai

in the flowerbed,

voice thick with concern. "Erica!

up, and she threw herself into his arms, whimpering. "Roderick! Sophi

d at me, his eyes blazing with an

it straight. She pushed me first. And if I didn't care about our families' s

ove her so much, go inside right now, call off the engage

red, his face

n't. Without the fort

ook how arrogant she is! We can't let her

rica, and blocked my path. "Sophia, don't come to the di

actly! Get out! You'

o speak, when a stern shout thundered from