of the study flew

eports, his brow furrowed in annoyance. "What is

ad, you have to listen to me. Annette and Chloe-they're trying to force me to marr

dge of his nose, a gesture of deep weariness. "I'm aware o

hest as if to hold herself together. "Best solution? Do you have any idea what they

emotion. "I refuse to let anyone destroy the last thing she left me. I knew the Vances valued purity above all else

was replaced by a cold, business-like mask. "Do you have any proof of

in her chest. He didn't care abou

ght this disgrace upon yourself with your own scandalous behavior, yet you have the au

mpered me? Mom's funeral shroud wasn't even cold before you brought your mistress and her daughter into this house, letting them ruthlessly rule over us!

n moved so fast she didn't have time to reac

p echoed in the sile

ek. Her lip split, and she tasted the metallic tang of blood. But the physic

tared at her father, at the man who had just strike

k in his eyes, but he quickly hardened his expressio

eo's medical bills. One word from me, and the hospital halts all treatments for his congenital heart defect. Those specialized procedures cost an absolute fortune every month, Ella. Without my f

a gasped, the air completely sucked from her lungs as her face went deathly pale. She stared at the man before her, unable to believe he would sentence his ow

efusing to meet her eyes as he poured another glass of wh

d her head, her eyes flashing with a terrifying, resolute fire as she stared at her father. "You want me to marry the Sinclair fossil to save your preciou

ce contorting with pure ra

r daughter do nothing but plot to ruin my life. Since everything Mom built and left behind is eventually going to be handed over to these vultures anyway, I would rather smash it all to

gone, replaced by a chi

nd walked out of the study. Her ba

e twisting in his gut. He quickly drow

the wood, exchanged a triumphant glance at the sound of the slap. As Ella walked past t

, her back against the wood, and finally, the silent tears came. She

ing left inside but a cold, hard resolve.