a Thorne, it felt like the closing of one cage and the opening of another

rom the public eye, some said he was in hiding, others said he had been picked up by the authorities for the attempted hac

her had

ung open, the very air seemed to thin. Samuel was dressed in a charcoal three-piece suit, his silv

n Knight. He hadn't left her side since the night before, and he didn'

n the large leather chair behind the desk, her chair. "I see you've finished playing with your food. The Woods boy w

eady. "It was a lesson. I needed to see the world from

? A Knight in my castle? I recall our families having a non compete agreemen

perfectly at ease. "The agreement was for business, Samuel. This is per

rmined by the Thorne Board. And the Board has decided that her sabbatical

n Directive? You can't be ser

ched," Samuel snapped, his hand slamming onto the desk. "The engagement I've arranged with the House

s expectations pressing down on her. This was the man who had taught her t

piece of Thorne property. I just dismantled an empire because a man tried t

ke Mark Woods? You are a Thorne because I say you are. Without my name, you are nothing. I will freeze your

dn't lose his temper. He walked over to Aria an

"And she certainly doesn't need your money. If you freeze her accounts, I will ope

war on the Thorne Group for a woman, Knig

smirk touching his lips. "I'm investing it. And unlik

eyes, a fire he had put there, but could no longer control. He saw the way

without the Thorne shadow. Within thirty days, you must acquire the Grand Continental Hotel Group. It is currently owned by the Sterli

fail?" A

arry Cavendish, and you never

egal battles. It was an impossible task. But Ethan wasn't looking at

er father. "Get the paperwork ready, Father

hind him, Aria collapsed onto the sofa. The adrenaline was fading,

in his. His thumb traced the Thorne ri

ia whispered. "The creditors hate me

his eyes flashing with a ruthless brilliance. "