was "not a suitable match" ignite

s voice deceptively calm, like

ntage. "Ace, you know as well as I do what kind of pedigree the wi

ers. Once word of today's events gets out, i

ce cut him off, "i

king on a tone of final, indisputable procl

t name was a deliberate dismissal of respect,

ver you've molded it in

rd, is mine to give. If I say she is blamele

ated power in his wo

ell again to the sleeping girl in his care, his

my wom

n traveled through the phone, a dir

now my sole responsibility. It has nothing to

ll ties, a complete nullifica

t's breathing grew heavy and ragg

ne gone, replaced by steel. "She is my daughter. I am her father. That is a le

a flicker of doubt that had been

pictured Alexandrea's, so full of a quiet, resilient strength. Th

ather who was indifferent to her humili

rtling thou

e light, almost mocking, as he asked th

Are you reall

y aimed dagger, striking the most v

of the line we

He didn't deny it. H

as more damning th

hed Ace's lips. He knew. He h

ait for Bre

versation

call, plunging the car ba

owing more intense. There were far more secrets

-