better brace yourself to bleed. As my wife, you should equip yourself with a stro

ou can release the promised money to my family in ten separate installments. Once y

othing sounded forced. Her opening move against her uncle required leverage she could keep firmly in hand,

thing mapped out, yet the unease flickering in her eyes and the tight stra

's roof, Connor immediately saw through the careful ph

uling her-as though she truly were nothing more than a neg

ast, clearly unwilling to be indebted to her kindness, and

heck into Nicole's hands. "Ms. Perry, this represents one-tenth of the sett

left her momentarily stunned. She folded it away with deliberate care and, before stepping out, turned back

om the wheelchair and walked to the window, his tall frame s

ging his voice. "Five million isn't pocket change for so

nswer, his expre

.

le's uncle, had ordered the housekeeper to lay out an extravagant feast,

h that money, you can bankroll Jerald's startup, make sure his heart stays firmly with you, and you've cleared away an annoyance

er glass and asked casually, "Has the

arrive any moment. The Reeds value their

her in everything, stealing attention without even trying. Now that Nico

"If she ever found out her father was literally driven to his death by rage, I wonder

tantly as he snapped, "Why

tered, "What's there to panic ov

lueless, yet every ugly truth ha

Nicole stepped inside, cutting straight

ss as ever, yet a glacial detachment lingered in

contempt curling her lips as she

mouth. "I came to hand over the money. Or

cession. So the money was handed over by Nicole? But ho

ntly, "Then what are you just standing t

he said coolly, folding her hands. "You promised my mother a proper burial-something respectful, something dignified. Once

r chair. How had Nicole become this frightening just because he

xpect us to pay respects?" Her irritation spilled over as sh

ing without warning. In the next heartbeat, her hand flashed out,