stian family estate in Long Island

ing driveway and parked inside the six-c

er face had dried, leaving her skin feeling tight and cracked. The hysterical

ther turning on the lights. She navigated the massive, empty hallways

the grand staircase and

alk-in closet. She dropped to her knees on the hardwood floor and pull

ath a pile of old winter sweaters, her finge

t a small, ru

ontaining a lock of Cole's baby hair, a letter sealed

lack. The text was s

Ort

tive

s a private Manha

of the East Coast's most powerful financial dynasty. Before he died, he had left this for her. For

stood by the bedroom window, look

e from her pocket a

ctly once before t

incredibly calm m

owed hard. "

ckle vibrated through the speaker. It sounded like he had been si

ega said. "I have

as she fought to maintain control. "I don't want his money. I don't want the empire. I just want a div

to absolute, razor-sharp professionalism. "The Carlisle family never relies on mere attorneys to fight its battles. The resources your father left y

day warred with her deep-seated fear of her father's dark legacy. "I just

on of a boundary. "We will take it one step at a time. I wil

ou," Aud

letting back into her life. She didn't walk over to the fireplace to destroy it. Instead, she slowly lowered herself back down to the floor, her fingers tracing the sharp edges of the thick cardstock. With a deep, shuddering breath, she placed the card carefully back into the hidden compartment

. She opened the liquor cabinet, grabbed a bottle of expen

nic keypad on the fro

ung open, hitting the

echoed through the foye

backpack slung over one shoulder. She walked into the kitchen a

d, her face twis

manded, glaring at Audrey. "I told Rosa

zed, rushed to the fridge, and plated the desse

ss in her hand, the amber liquid catching the dim light. She lo

bourbon. The alcohol burned

completely devoid of emotion, "go to the fridg

wasn't used to hearing that tone from her mother. H

bratty anger. Willow stomped he

eir kids get home!" Willow yelled, her face

land and stopped two feet in front of Willow. She looked down at

Her voice was terrifyingly

, replaced by a flash of pure, guilty panic. She instinctively took

ry. She simply raised her hand a

nded. The words were sharp as br

Audrey silenced her. Trembling slightly, Willow bent down, grabbed the strap of he

her lips and swallowed the rest of the bourbon, letting the