xia

ed, but a deep, aching dam

s moving through the wor

s. It was devastating to realize how litt

I went to the office-Jaco

ome minor consulting work I had done y

alive with a

behind their hands, eye

the elevator straight up

other was

very inch the queen on a throne. Jacob stood besi

oice was cold, impeccably

sign the NDA relea

terms regarding the trust fund," she announc

ob, incredulous

licated, Alexia. With the IPO coming up... we need stability. Cassandra

ear," I fini

ted weakly. "Cassandra fits the family imag

d, the words tasting like

muttered. "And for Anton.

dry, hacking sound t

sted the diamond ring. It was tig

d mark as I yanked

the mahogany desk

ept,"

up, startle

ent,'" I said. "But h

finish, the d

her like perfume. Her wrist was bandaged i

heatrical display of grief. "I saw the news! They're saying

like a trophy. "I tried! I tried to e

. She pointed a manicured finger at me. "Look at what you've do

There wasn't a single dro

he bathroom floor, biting a towel so I wouldn'

ignored. The pain t

as low, but it cut through th

ectly at Jac

. You will pay me for every song I wrote that you put Cassandra's name on. You will pay

songs," Jacob said,

" I said coldly. "Ch

he settlement. Full damages. Or I go to the press w

like he was seeing a strange

dn't," he

me,"