neve

mmered below Ashcroft Tower. Dawn bled into the skyline, painting

la was

ve. Not a runaway bride. Not a selfish sister abandoning her obligati

en taken.

r fear. If someone had abducted Arabella, it meant intention.

respond, it opened slightly. Mrs. Dalton, the Ashcro

resence in his study, Mrs. As

throat too ti

n's

shelves lined the walls with legal documents, financial reports, and confidential archives. Mo

t, reviewing a table

he door,

d, pulse

it

ir across from him, hands folded ti

ted his gaze. Ste

s confirmed al

her chest like

rtain?" sh

es

, but she forced them back.

took

ed, "is what we are

stills flashed across the screen: airport secu

e continued. "She admitted she was paid to replicate your designs,

stomach

my brand," sh

es

he wasn't involved in my business

ed back, s

ver random. Arabella Sutton h

ed one

e Sutton name carries politi

ond f

e. That alliance merges tw

ger lower

leverage a

blinked

hion label has grown rapidly in elite circles. Someone may benefit from des

ion made her

pearance to sabotage ev

es

est tighten

d you," she said softly. "They thought she ra

s beneficial for s

never destroy herself. She cared too much about image

gaze l

nding her,"

now we know she didn't run. She didn't aband

nreadable flickered in Ronan's

eserves to be save

w she

as if weighing

Firs

ablet, pulling up

re account," he explained. "That acc

ration?" Mi

ne Cons

g to her, but his ton

blackmail, and corporate destabilization.

they took

were hired," h

wh

emains

rward. "Then we

stigate anything

ster," she s

," he said, voice l

e. Her pulse raced, but she refus

uietly. "But Arabella was the original bride. If she's

y wife now

quickly. "And I'm as

e desk, stopping direct

he people we're dealing

it to me," s

said. "They eliminate witnesses. They erase evidence. I

eath c

a said softly, "then they need her a

ou are far more perceptive t

. The corner of his mouth twitched f

rous Ag

ay, staring at

stigate Veltrane d

shoulders

"you will assist my

ead l

mean

es my network cannot easily infiltrate. Veltrane

flick

s," she said quickly. "I

" he said. "You will report every interacti

d but beneath it,

er's P

asn't gone. She was waiting. And Mireya would find her, even if

said quietly

ooke

r believing she'

red behind his g

ause she's your sist

owned. "T

to take what belongs to