hrough the floor-to-ceiling windows

e, her face completely blank as sh

oed on the gr

Tom Ford suit. He was tapping his Bluetooth earp

chair opposite A

ed, out of pure habit, for Ayla to

uscle. She took a sl

ight," she said, her voice f

y looked at her, his brow furrowing as he

arpiece, cuttin

anning her face for any sign of what she knew. Last night's panic was gone, replaced by a

yes. She met his gaze wi

really that impor

o is for the Farrell Group's Nasda

ond, the heavy dining

alked in, followed closely by A

aced a large, iconic orange box on t

g across his face. But his smile didn't quite reach his eyes, wh

She reached out and pull

et dust bag was a Himalayan crocodile Birki

te auction before it even went public," Axel s

bag. It cost hundreds

iation. He was treating her like a pet. Throwing an

ange box away. It slid a

d this," she

ished instantly.

snapped, his patience evaporating.

cking sharply against the m

mother, Heda, marched into the dining ro

straight to Axel, placing a hand on his shou

itical eyes dragged down Ayla's body, sto

dered, her tone sharp and arrogant. "You are going

t requires an heir with blue-blood genetics to

d the handle of her butter kni

hild right now," Ayla said, her vo

ed her hand down on the dining ta

l little brat!

s. You were thrown out of the Joyce family like trash. You have no backgroun

d her head

d in. He had always played the protec

coffee cup. He didn't

a, you're being overly sensitive again. Stop m

her like a physica

who saw her as a breeding mare, and the che

thread of attachment

heavy wooden chair scraped

, decisive, and complete

someone else to inherit," Ayla said,

k on them and walk

Axel roared, his voice

raight out the front doors, dow

e door shut, and sped out of the estate gate