ring wipers. Darian's hands gripped the steering wheel of h

cility. It wasn't the luxury sanitarium Grant had threatened to cut funding for-she had moved her mo

orridors, nodding to the night nu

She was sitting in a wheelchair by the window, rocking back and

ell of a woman whose mind had fractured

for you," a voice s

seventy, dressed in a Chanel suit that was at least twenty years out of d

on as I could

wax seal on the back was broken. It bore the cr

d assets are gone. I sold the last of my jewelry to pay for this month'

though she knew it was a lie. Grant

Vivian scoffed. "

The rain had slowed to a drizzle. Vivian lit a

lion dollars in offshore accounts. Frozen since your fat

y-six last week

nterrupted. She tapped the enve

egal document. She squinted in t

pouse of good standing and financial independence, to ensure

caped her lips. "You have to be kidding me.

lar empire," Vivian said dryly. "The irony is rich, isn't it? You just left the

get married, Au

otos. "I've taken the liberty of compiling a list. There's

ordinary men. Decent men. Men who would be cr

troy anyone he thinks is weak. If I marry, it has to be som

ebrow. "That is a s

hrough the rolodex of names she had memorized over seve

the spinning wh

an V

o had ever beaten Grant in court. He was

ce," Darian

ce? The shark? He eats people like us for

r eyes, "the Vances and the Kleins go back. Your father set up the Trust with Julian's grandfather, Alistair. It's shielded by layers of attorney-client

gain. She looked d

calling

ller' button. It felt good.

ian asked, watching her closely. "L

he window where her mot

aid, her voice cold. "I can't afford i

aled a number she had saved yea

u doing?" Vi

" Darian said. "But not fo

se, Grant stared at his phone. Th

o the sofa. It bounced

g a glass of water. "Is

he room. "She's trying to make me worry. She th

mee asked, her voi

the rug where Darian had stood. The wet footpr

th sensitive knowledge," Grant lied. "Get secu

a rumor, Grant. From my friend at the agency. D

ce in his glass se

tchma

aughed. "Trying to find a suga

st that had nothing to do with anger

t dare," Gra

er wet clothes. She stood before the mirror, looking at

arian the Assistant. She wo