ng Banquet. If she went, it meant watching Ju

iving a knife strai

Edmund. "Nina, the ten years are nearly over. This

ell and a final warning. When she left, she w

s from across the Eastridge Coast filled the room, dressed in tailored suits and glitter

d table. Julian stood there in a black custom-tailored suit, his

red mermaid gown that made her dazzlingly beau

early through the hall. "Today, I formally introduce Aria Monroe to

man he woul

ard that the sharp pain was the only

, the hall f

rous applau

archs of the old families exchanged subtle

all k

gitimate son suppressed by his uncle, and it was Nina who stayed besid

m with a honey trap, and that woman ended up with her l

er allowed any woman within a

tion. Now, Aria was the one who could s

hide the pain inside her, but the t

him meant less than a single sentenc

e sweet. "Nina, you came too? I th

all sip of champagne. "Face what? The fortu

stiffened. "What d

years ago, when Julian was being hunted across the city and hiding in a dockside warehouse

op of the Blackwell Group and holds half the Eastridge Coast in his hands, suddenl

"That's nonsense! My fam

single reply? Yet the moment a financial magazine reported last month that the Blackwell Group's valuatio

ontinue their conversations, but every

ween two women. This was the pub

voice trembled. "Julian! You

wn, his voice carrying a war

ian, do you actually believe her? The woman w

ed. "The past is bes

rned away. "I wish you both a lifetime

h the crowd and l

ed into a side alley to call for a car whe

nd pressed a cloth soaked with an

limbs quickly weakened

se plates parked at the alley entrance. The door sli

ll said not to kill her. Take her

lted. Were thes