se were drawn tight. The air inside the luxury dup

on the Italian leather sofa. A blind

eraphina's hand while she cried about her broken leg. He hadn't

is throat dry. "Get me some

ent was the faint humming of the Roomba vacuu

is temples. A spark of irritation flared in his

treated her, if he ignored her for a day, she would always brea

The marble island was spotless. Th

or muttered to himself, tuggin

open the door to their massive wa

opped

closet-Anissa's side-

gs were gone. Even the faint, lingering scent of h

sense of panic started to wrap around his lungs.

lit up with thirty missed calls. They were all f

nissa. Not even a call from the R

fed, dialed Anissa's number, and held the phone to his ear. He was ready t

e sorry. The number you have reached i

at the screen in disbelief. She cancel

on the front door beeped.

e spread across his face. He walked toward the

fro

rsonal wealth manager, flanked by two stone-faced cor

ofusely. He looked at Connor with

anded Connor a thick document stamped

your unilateral breach of the marriage contract, your grandfather has

in your name have been deactivated. This property is ow

the document, his eyes tearing through the legal jargon. "This is

r beneficiary status is based strictly on your failure to fulfill the marriage contract with Ms. Roy, and the subsequent, severe damage to the Snow family's public reputation. Furtherm

er, his mouth opening and closing. "What matriarch? W

s iPad, tapped the screen, and shoved it into Connor's chest.

looke

ition photo taken i

lue diamond matriarch ring onto Anissa's finger. And

onto his knees, staring at the screen