ispered again, fragile as

id no

t hum of Ashcroft Holdings' corporate floors far below. He watched her,

e said at last, voi

re wore a pale coat, nearly identical to Mireya's. Posture, height, hairstyle,

fingers

er car," she insisted.

e, measuring each

exactly like my wife is involved in my sis

," she said, voice cracking

the tablet

called by

es

nd

one of my label's desi

ightened

ent," he

would hurt my

, "people are capable of

ed heavier tha

sion etched into his us

ed Mrs. Ashcroft for questioning. A

Ronan said calmly, g

ocent... don't you?"

id slowly, "the tr

. Only judgment w

an Investi

coffee. Harsh light fell across the metal table. Mireya's

ve flipped throu

from your latest coutu

ublicly," she replied. "Only my te

esigns are

es

that fabric had direct

ed. "My staff

ve interrupted. He slid photos across the table: Arabella's car,

ze this coat de

s barely aud

own

ed... for a pr

eaned forw

d. Fear curled

equested it,"

from your label that matches

ring it. She picked it up herself d

lse at

ted it, one seamstress

am

ided the

u're not under arrest but off

rds cu

lomerate – Ex

lights as dusk fell, refl

ced a file o

n Mireya's design st

g?" Rona

us yet. But..." H

gaze s

o," Calder said. "Large payments through shell companies tied to pol

e stre

laughing with someone whose gloved hand rested lightly on her shoulder. Securit

ssion darkene

sion – Pri

pressed he

dismissively. "Perhaps this pressure will b

e one daughter to protect o

idn't answer.

Penthou

sted. Hours of questi

replace, shadows flic

ome late,

tioned me

you

N

u lying

on cut lik

dmitted, voice shaking

hing soft almost flickering in

iberately framing you. In my world, people don't a

forcing her to mee

ed. "Do you think Arabella

e was worse th

terrogation, Ronan's warning echoing:

ce downstairs: voi

llway as Mr. Calder mov

Cal

your room," he said

happ

t from below, co

g her

cended the stairs. Two guards forced a tre

, mascara smeared,

ress at her studio for three years, invo

ushed Lila t

... pl

twisted. "Why

ped forwar

a private flight out t

t mean... I only cop

Ronan asked, voic

't say," sh

to kill her!" Lil

?" Mireya

," Lila whis

s shatte

hifted to Mire

about Arabella's dis

thing," Mireya sa

d coldly, "whoever did this ha

obbed

r downstairs. I want every nam

ght still be alive. But someone wanted her dead. A